HAMMOND – McNeese State freshman pinch hitter Morgan Catron hit a grand slam in the top of the ninth inning to allow the Cowgirls to rally for a 9-5 extra-inning victory over in the opener of a Southland Conference softball series at North Oak Park.
With the win, McNeese State (27-18, 13-5 Southland) moved into a tie for third place in the Southland Conference standings with the host Lady Lions (19-21, 13-5 Southland). SLU carried a 5-2 lead into the top of the seventh inning, but freshman Erika Piancastelli forced extra-innings with her league-leading 18
th home run of the season. The heroics of the MSU freshman duo ruined a record-breaking day for SLU.
Junior outfielder
Katie Lacour had two hits to run her league-leading total to 69, breaking the previous single-season school record of 68 set by Dee Rancher in 1999. Freshman shortstop
Sydney Booker tied the single-season school record set by Southeastern Athletics Hall of Famer Voncia Bookman in 1992 with her team-high eighth triple of the season.
In addition, junior designated player
Amber Sather drew three walks to run her single-season total to 36, besting the program record of 35 she set last season. The Kennedale, Texas also holds the school career record with 102 free passes.
Senior shortstop
Megan Moore led the Lady Lions at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and four RBI. Lacour, freshman outfielder
Kinsey Nichols and senior second baseman
Vanessa Eng contributed two hits apiece. Nichols also was credited with an RBI.
Southeastern jumped on top against MSU junior starter Jamie Allred in the bottom of the first inning with a two-out rally. Booker roped a triple into the right centerfield gap to get the Lady Lions going. After a Sather walk, Moore powered a three-run home run over the left field fence to give the Lady Lions a 3-0 lead.
The Lady Lions tacked on another run in the bottom of the second inning. A double by senior first baseman
Teresa Lemos, followed by consecutive singles by Eng and Lacour loaded the bases. Allred then hit Nichols to force in a run and give SLU a 4-0 cushion.
SLU junior
Taylor Bishop (12-5) pitched out of trouble in the first two innings, before MSU got on the board in the top of the third inning. Junior pitcher Emily Vincent (11-5) lined a two-run triple to cut the Lady Lion advantage to 4-2.
Southeastern added an insurance in the bottom of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Moore hit a sharp single through the left side to give SLU a 5-2 lead.
All indications were that it would be more than enough offense for Bishop, who held the Cowgirls at bay over the next several innings. However, MSU finally came up clutch in the top of the seventh inning. After consecutive walks to freshman second baseman Hailey Drew and senior centerfielder Lauren Langner, Piancastelli bombed a 2-2 pitch over the centerfield fence to tie the score at 5.
Southeastern mounted a threat to end it in the bottom of the eighth inning. Consecutive singles by Lacour and Nichols put a pair on with two outs, but Vincent recovered to retire Booker and keep the score deadlocked.
MSU took its first lead in the top of the ninth inning. Bishop walked Piancastelli, Vincent and freshman third baseman Bryanna Castro to load the bases. Castron then came off the bench and lined a 1-2 pitch over the right field fence. That was more than enough for Vincent, who retired SLU in order to secure the victory.
The series is scheduled to continue on Saturday with a 12 p.m. doubleheader. Live stats and live video (LionVision subscription required) will be accessible at LionSports.net.
