HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team split a pair of games on day two of the Lion Classic Saturday at North Oak Park.
 
The Lady Lions (3-1) opened the day with a 5-4 comeback victory over Southern Illinois. SLU scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to edge the Salukis. Senior shortstop Katie Lacour plated the game-winning runs with a two-run single, ash both she and sophomore outfielder Kinsey Nichols had two hits apiece. Senior Taylor Bishop (2-0) scattered four hits in six innings of relief to earn the win.
 
In the nightcap, Tennessee-Martin took advantage of four Southeastern errors to down the Lady Lions, 9-1, in six innings. Freshman second baseman Angelica Gutierrez hit her first collegiate home run, while Nichols finished with two hits in the loss.
 
In Saturday's other games, UTM defeated Mississippi Valley State, 8-1, while SIU blanked MVSU, 12-0. Buffalo defeated Tennessee State, 7-1, and fell to Nicholls, 3-1. Nicholls also earned a 13-4 six-inning victory over TSU.
 
Southeastern will close out the tournament on Sunday, facing Tennessee State at 11 a.m. and Mississippi Valley State at 1 p.m. Live stats and live video (LionVision subscription required) will be available at LionSports.net. On field two, Southern Illinois and Buffalo meet at 10 a.m., followed by UT Martin and Nicholls face off at 12 p.m.
 
Game One – Southeastern Louisiana 5, Southern Illinois 4
Southern Illinois took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Shortstop Kelsey Gonzalez drew a leadoff walk against senior Madison Vige' and scored later in the inning on an RBI single by third baseman Sydney Jones.  
 
The Salukis added to their lead in the top of the second on an RBI single by catcher Jessa Thomas. In the fifth inning, first baseman Shaye Harre hit a solo home run to push the advantage to 3-0.
 
Southeastern finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sophomore catcher Carlie Whittington drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Nichols to cut the SIU lead to 3-1.
 
The Salukis got the run back in the top of the sixth inning. Right fielder Hanna Porter doubled and scored on an RBI groundout by second baseman Savannah Fisher to move the tally to 4-1.
 
Southeastern loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning after consecutive walks issued to senior first baseman Amber Sather, junior designated player Lacey Fritz and junior Mychal Truxillo. One out later, sophomore second baseman Grace DeLee hit a comebacker to pitcher Brianna Jones (2-1). Jones froze, allowing DeLee to reach and sophomore pinch runner Peyton Stokes-Sutton to score.
 
Whittington hit another grounder to Brianna Jones. This time, Jones made a perfect throw home, but Thomas dropped the throw, allowing senior pinch runner Amanda Livaudais to score. One out later, Lacour singled through the left side, scoring Truxillo and DeLee and give SLU its first lead.
 
Bishop sat down the heart of the Southern Illinois order in the top of the seventh inning to close out the win.
 
SIU – 110 011 0 – 4 7 1 (2-2)
SLU – 000 014 x – 5 5 0 (3-0)
Savanna Dover, Brianna Jones (6) and Jessa Thomas. Madison Vige', Taylor Bishop (2) and Whitney Sullivan, Carlie Whittington (6). W – Bishop (2-0). L – Jones (2-1). HR – SIU: Shaye Harre. 2B – SIU: Hanna Porter. T – 1:59. A – 674.
 
Game Two – Tennessee-Martin 9, Southeastern Louisiana 1 (6 Innings)
UTM jumped out to a 1-0 lead against freshman Peyton Pignolio (1-1) in the top of the first inning. An RBI double by Jodie Duncan plated the game's first run and gave the Skyhawks the lead.
 
Southeastern tied the score in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Gutierrez hit a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence to knot the score.
 
Tennessee-Martin took the lead for good in the top of the third inning. Three consecutive errors led to three unearned runs and a 4-1 lead. The Skyhawks would add two runs in the fourth, a run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth to account for the final 9-1 margin.
 
UTM – 103 212 – 9 8 1 (3-1)
SLU – 010 000 – 1 5 4 (3-1)
Brooke Kennedy and Renate Meckl. Peyton Pignolio, Kasey Nielson (3), Caitlyn VanHemelryck (4), Pigniolo (5), Madison Vige' (6) and Whitney Sullivan, Carlie Whittington (6), Sullivan (6). HR – SLU: Angelica Gutierrez. 2B – UTM: Jodie Duncan; SLU: Kinsey Nichols, Carlie Whittington. T – 1:55. A – 674.
 
2016 Lion Classic
Home teams listed in bold and will occupy first base dugout
 
Friday, February 12
 
Field One
Tennessee-Martin 4, Buffalo 3
Southeastern Louisiana 8, Buffalo 4
Southeastern Louisiana 8, Tennessee State 0 (5 innings)
 
Field Two
Southern Illinois 3, Tennessee-Martin 0
Nicholls 2, Southern Illinois 0
Tennessee State 10, Mississippi Valley State 2 (5 innings)
Nicholls 11, Mississippi Valley State 0 (5 innings)
 
Saturday, February 13
 
Field One
Tennessee-Martin 8, Mississippi Valley State 1
Southern Illinois 12, Mississippi Valley State 0 (6 Innings)
Southeastern Louisiana 5, Southern Illinois 4
Tennessee-Martin 9, Southeastern Louisiana 1 (6 Innings)
 
Field Two
Buffalo 7, Tennessee State 1
Nicholls 13, Tennessee State 4 (5 innings)
Nicholls 3, Buffalo 1
 
Sunday, February 14
 
Field One
11 a.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. Tennessee State
1 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. Mississippi Valley State
 
Field Two
10 a.m. – Southern Illinois vs. Buffalo
12 p.m. – Tennessee-Martin vs. Nicholls