HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana senior pitcher
Tori Stamper won both games, while freshmen third baseman
Sydney Booker and outfielder
Kinsey Nichols were clutch at the plate, as the Lady Lions earned a doubleheader sweep over Incarnate Word in Southland Conference softball action Saturday evening at North Oak Park.
The doubleheader sweep allowed SLU (9-15, 4-1 Southland) to clinch its second straight series to open league play. Incarnate Word fell to 3-19 overall and 0-5 in Southland Conference play.
In the opener, Nichols forced in the winning run when UIW sophomore pitcher Kristin Hebert (2-7) hit her with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning. In SLU's 5-4 win, Booker tied her and Nichols' single-game school record that they set earlier this season with two triples, driving in three runs. Junior outfielder
Katie Lacour and senior second baseman
Vanessa Eng each had three hits in a victory.
The nightcap saw Southeastern edge UIW, 2-1, in a pitcher's duel between Stamper (2-2) and Cardinal senior Brooke DuBois (1-5). Nichols and Lacour both scored runs, as UIW sophomore right fielder Danielle Ramirez misplayed a ball off the bat of Booker. Stamper scattered four hits in the complete-game effort.
Southeastern head coach
Pete Langlois singled out several players for praise after Saturday's doubleheader sweep.
"We've been looking for that second pitcher to team with (junior)
Taylor Bishop in the rotation," Langlois commented. "Tori pitched really well on Tuesday (versus Cleveland State) and earned the right to get the ball today. We're really proud of how she made the most of her opportunity.
"Sydney is really proving to be clutch as a freshman and we're really impressed with how talented she is both at the plate and at third," Langlois continued. "What has also helped her is that Katie and Kinsey are constantly on base to set her up with RBI chances. Those two have been on fire at the top of the lineup."
Southeastern will look to complete the series sweep on Sunday at 12 p.m. Live stats and live video (LionVision subscription required) will be accessible at LionSports.net.
Game One – Southeastern Louisiana 5, Incarnate Word 4 (8 Innings)UIW took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning against Bishop. Sophomore catcher Christy Trevino hit a one-out home run to put the Cardinals on the board.
The lead would be short-lived, however. In the bottom of the third, singles by Eng and Lacour put a pair on to start the frame. One out later, Booker cleared the bases with a triple to the left centerfield wall to give SLU the lead. Booker would later come home on an RBI groundout by junior designated player
Amber Sather to give the Lady Lions a 3-1 lead.
Bishop made the lead stand up until the top of the sixth inning, when UIW knotted the score by sending eight to the plate. RBI by sophomore designated player Alex Alonzo and junior third baseman Shelbi Swenson pulled the Cardinals even.
UIW took the lead against Stamper in the top of the seventh inning. Senior centerfielder Alex Zepeda singled with one out and later scored on an RBI single by Swenson to take a 4-3 advantage.
Hebert could not lock down the win, however. Nichols singled with one out, stole second and scored when Booker hit a triple over Zepeta's head to tie the score at 4-4.
Stamper pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the eighth inning to give SLU the chance to win it in the bottom of the eighth. Senior shortstop
Megan Moore singled to lead off the inning, then Eng and Lacour followed with two-out base hits to load the bases. On the second pitch of her at-bat, Nichols was plunked in the side by a Hebert pitch, allowing freshman pinch runner
Grace DeLee to score the game-winning run.
Game Two – Southeastern Louisiana 2, Incarnate Word 1UIW took the early lead in the top of the second inning against Stamper. Swenson was hit by a pitch to leadoff the frame, then later scored on an RBI double by Trevino.
Southeastern threatened in several early innings, but could not get on the board until the bottom of the fifth inning. Lacour beat out an infield single, then Nichols reached on a fielder's choice to put two runners on with two outs. Booker then hit a line drive to right that Ramirez camped out under, but it tipped off her glove, allowing the speedy SLU duo of Lacour and Nichols to race home and take a 2-1 lead.
That was more than enough for Stamper. The Williston, Florida native shut the door on the win, retiring the last 11 Cardinals she faced to earn her first complete game victory of the season.
