Box Score 1 | Box Score 2


HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team battled to a split on day two of the Jimmy John's Lion Classic II Friday at North Oak Park.
 
The Lady Lions (5-2) opened the day with a 7-6 extra-inning win over South Dakota. In the nightcap, UTEP edged Southeastern, 4-3, to snap Southeastern's five-game winning streak.
 
Southeastern rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat the Coyotes in extra innings. Junior right fielder Logane Fuselier put Southeastern on the board with an inside the park home run, while freshman designated player Amber Sather's grand slam keyed a five-run sixth inning. Junior second baseman Megan McCollum drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning to force in the game-winning run. Senior Kati Morse (1-0) got the win in the circle, scattering two hits in four innings of scoreless relief.
 
UTEP took advantage of five Southeastern errors to take the second game. Freshman Taylor Bishop (1-1) was the tough luck loser for the Lady Lions, allowing four unearned runs in her second start of the season. Senior centerfielder Michelle Duhe tripled home all three runs for the Lady Lions in the loss.
 
Southeastern will be back to tournament action on Saturday, facing South Dakota State at 3 p.m. Live stats will be available at LionSports.net.
 
Game One – Southeastern Louisiana 7, South Dakota 6
USD starter Erica Denney and Southeastern senior Kenna Terry matched zeroes until the top of the third inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, catcher Allie Daly homered off the scoreboard in right centerfield to stake the Coyotes to a 4-0 lead.
 
Southeastern got a run back in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Fuselier launched a ball to right just out of the reach of USD right fielder Morgan Hancock. The ball ricocheted off the fence and rolled into the right field corner. The speedy Oberlin, La. native raced home with her first home run of her Lady Lion career.
 
South Dakota seemingly put Southeastern away with two runs in the top of the fourth inning and the Lady Lions comeback hopes were not looking strong when Southeastern left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lady Lions got back into the game with a two-out rally. Singles by senior shortstop Kayla Elswick and senior left fielder Kelsey Nichols, coupled with a USD error plated the first run of the inning. After Fuselier drew a walk to load the bases, Sather crushed a 0-1 pitch that cleared the left field fence easily and tied the game at 6-6.
 
The teams went to the international tie-breaker rule in the eighth and Morse showed senior poise in keeping USD off the board in its half of the frame. After giving up two hits when she entered the game, the Ponchatoula native retired the last 12 batters she faced.
 
Fuselier was placed on second to start the bottom of the eighth inning and Sather drew a leadoff walk. The pair of runners advanced to scoring position on a groundout by senior catcher Katie Doyle. South Dakota then intentionally walked sophomore third baseman Megan Moore to load the bases and set up the force play. However, USD reliever Missy Blackburn's 3-2 pitch to McCollum was off the mark, allowing Fuselier to walk in with the winning run.
 
Game Two – UTEP 4, Southeastern Louisiana 3
Southeastern jumped out to a lead in the bottom of the second versus UTEP starter Danielle Pearson. Singles by McCollum and junior first baseman Tori Sheppard, followed by an Elswick walk loaded the bases with one out. One out later, Duhe ripped a shot over right fielder Kayla Black's head to clear the bases and stake Southeastern to a 3-0 lead.
 
Bishop was cruising, before a pair of Elswick errors allowed a run to come in in the top of the fourth inning. In the sixth inning, two Moore errors keyed a three-run Miner inning and allowed UTEP to take a 4-3 lead.
 
Southeastern threatened in its last trip, as Nichols and Duhe reached to lead off the inning. However, Pearson bore down and retired Fuselier, Sather and Doyle in succession to preserve the victory.
 
2013 Jimmy John's Lion Classic II – Feb. 14-17 – North Oak Park – Hammond, La.
 
Thursday, Feb. 14
 
Field One
5:30 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana 13, UMBC 5 (6 Innings)- (Box Score)
 
Friday Feb. 15
 
Field One
South Dakota State 3, LSU-Alexandria 2 - (Box Score)
Southeastern Louisiana 7, South Dakota 6 (8 Innings) - (Box Score)
UTEP 4, Southeastern Louisiana 3 - (Box Score)
 
Field Two
Texas Southern 14, UMBC 5 - (Box Score)
LSU-Alexandria 7, UMBC 6 (8 Innings) - (Box Score)
 
Field Three
UTEP 13, South Dakota State 5 (5 Innings) - (Box Score)
South Dakota 5, Texas Southern 3 - (Box Score)
 
Saturday, Feb. 16
 
Field One
10 a.m. – South Dakota vs. UMBC
12:30 p.m. – UMBC vs. South Dakota State
3 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. South Dakota State
 
Field Two
10 a.m. – UTEP vs. LSU-Alexandria
12:30 p.m. – South Dakota vs. LSU-Alexandria
4 p.m. – LSU-Alexandria vs. Texas Southern
 
Field Three
12:30 p.m. – Texas Southern vs. UTEP
 
Sunday, Feb. 17
 
Field One
10 a.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. LSU-Alexandria
 
Field Two
10 a.m. – UTEP vs. South Dakota
 
Field Three
10 a.m. – South Dakota State vs. Texas Southern
 
Home teams listed first
 
Tournament Standings
UTEP 2-0
Southeastern Louisiana 2-1
South Dakota State 1-1
Texas Southern 1-1
LSU-Alexandria 1-1
UMBC 0-3