Southeastern Louisiana University Athletics

HAMMOND, La. – Despite big days at the plate by freshman third baseman Sydney Booker and junior designated player Amber Sather, the Southeastern Louisiana softball team lost a pair of games on day two of the Lion Scramble Saturday at North Oak Park.
 
In the nightcap, Arkansas (11-7) scored three runs in the top of the 7^th to rally past the Lady Lions (4-11) for a 6-5 victory. Sather led SLU at the plate, going 3-for-4 with her first home run of the season, as well as a double. Sophomore outfielder Sloan Jenkins drove in two runs, as she, Booker and freshman outfielder Kinsey Nichols each collected two hits for SLU, which out-hit the Razorbacks, 13-9.
 
In the opener, St. Louis (6-6) scored seven runs in the first inning on the way to a 10-3 victory over the Lady Lions. Junior outfielder Katie Lacour led SLU with three hits in the loss, while Booker drove in two runs and Nichols collected an RBI.
 
The Billikens sent 12 to the plate in their big first inning, chasing SLU senior Spencer Adkinson (0-4) before she could get out of the opening frame. Junior Madison Vige' came in to get out of the inning, but not before St. Louis grabbed a 7-0 lead.
 
An RBI triple by right fielder Mackenzie Peter in the top of the third inning padded the Billikens' lead. Facing a possible run-rule, SLU broke through with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
Singles by sophomore catcher Lacey Fritz and Lacour put runners on the corners with two outs. Nichols then beat out an infield hit, allowing freshman pinch runner Shelby Stewart to score the game's first run. Booker followed with a double off the left centerfield fence to cut the St. Louis advantage to 8-3.
 
That would be as close as Southeastern would get, however. St. Louis added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to provide the final margin.
 
Junior Taylor Bishop (2-3) sat down the first seven Arkansas batters she faced in the nightcap. However, the Razorbacks took advantage of an error by senior second baseman Vanessa Eng to score a pair of unearned runs and take a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
 
After stranding six runners in the first three innings, SLU finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sather doubled, senior first baseman Teresa Lemos reached on an error and Lacour walked to load the bases with one out. Consecutive singles by Nichols and Booker tied the score, then a two-run single by Jenkins gave Southeastern a 4-2 lead.
 
Sather padded the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Kennedale, Texas native launched a leadoff home run to straight away centerfield to put SLU on top, 5-2.
 
Arkansas would cut into the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Designated player Shelby Hiers led off the frame with a line-drive solo home run over the left field fence to pull the Razorbacks within two.
 
Southeastern had an opportunity to add insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. A single by Jenkins and a double by senior shortstop Megan Moore put a pair of runners in scoring position with two outs, but Arkansas pitcher Allison Stewart (4-2) struck out Fritz to end the frame. In total, SLU left 11 runners on in the loss.
 
In the seventh, a two-run double by shortstop Kasey Fagan tied the score for Arkansas. Fagan would later score on an RBI single by left fielder Rachel Box to give the Razorbacks a 6-5 lead.
 
Sather led off the bottom of the seventh with a sharp single to left. However, Arkansas reliever Sydney Wright retired Lemos, Eng and Lacour to earn her first save of the season.
 
The Lion Scramble closes with a 9 a.m. game between Southeast Missouri and Arkansas, followed by an 11 a.m. game between Tennessee-Martin and St. Louis on Sunday. Southeastern will be back in action on Tuesday, hosting a 2 p.m. round-robin tripleheader with Ball State and Detroit at North Oak Park. Live stats and live video (LionVision subscription required) for Sunday and Tuesday's action will be available at LionSports.net.
 
2015 Lion Classic Scramble
 
Friday, February 27 – Main Field
Tennessee-Martin 6, Southeastern Louisiana 0
Southeast Missouri 10, Southeastern Louisiana 8
St. Louis 8, Southeastern Missouri 7
 
Friday, February 27 – Alternate Location – Chappapeela Park
Arkansas 4, St. Louis 1 (8 Innings)
Arkansas 8, Tennessee-Martin 7 (8 Innings)
 
Saturday, February 28
St. Louis 10, Southeastern Louisiana 3
Arkansas 6, St. Louis 3
Tennessee-Martin 2, Southeast Missouri 1 (8 Innings_
Arkansas 6, Southeastern Louisiana 5
 
Sunday, March 1
9 a.m. – Southeast Missouri vs. Arkansas
11 a.m. – Tennessee-Martin vs. St. Louis
 
Teams listed first will occupy first base dugout
Home teams listed in bold