HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team matched its best 10-game start in school history with a doubleheader sweep of Alabama A&M Saturday afternoon at North Oak Park.
 
The Lady Lions (9-1) extended their win streak to six games after completing the four-game series sweep. The 9-1 start matches the program's best, previously set in 1998. Alabama A&M fell to 0-8 overall with Saturday's two losses.
 
In Saturday's first game, the Lady Lions rolled to a 10-5 victory. Senior shortstop Katie Lacour led SLU with a 3-for-3 showing at the plate, while sophomore outfielder Kinsey Nichols drove in three runs, finishing 2-for-3, including her first triple of the season.
 
Freshman Peyton Pigniolo (2-1) earned the victory in the circle, scattering five hits in 4.1 innings of work.
 
In the nightcap, the Lady Lions enforced the mercy rule in a 9-1 victory. Nichols was 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBI to fuel Southeastern's 10-hit attack. In her first collegiate start, freshman pitcher Caitlyn VanHemelryck (1-0) held AAMU to three hits and did not allow an earned run in the complete game victory.
 
Southeastern will close out an 11-game season-opening home stand on Monday, hosting Mississippi State at 5 p.m. Live stats and live video (LionVision subscription required) will be accessible at LionSports.net.
 
Game One – Southeastern Louisiana 10, Alabama A&M 5
Southeastern took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman outfielder Taylor Estain lined her first collegiate home run over the left centerfield fence to take a 1-0 lead off AAMU junior Caitlyn Hayden (0-3).
 
The Lady Lions added two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Lacour singled, stole second and third, then scored on an RBI single by Nichols. Nichols then promptly swiped two bags and was singled home by junior third baseman Mychal Truxillo to give Southeastern a 3-0 lead.
 
Pigniolo was cruising until the Lady Bulldogs touched her up for two runs in the top of the fifth inning. However, senior Madison Vige' closed the door to keep Southeastern ahead, 3-2.
 
The Lady Lions broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth inning, sending 11 batters to the plate. A two-run triple by Nichols started the inning, before senior first baseman Amber Sather singled home the Alvin, Texas native. RBI by freshman second baseman Angelica Gutierrez and junior Lacey Fritz capped the scoring and gave Southeastern an 8-2 lead.
 
After Alabama A&M got a run back, Southeastern scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman first baseman Kameryn Fairchild singled and scored on a wild pitch, while freshman shortstop Hannah Gomez recorded her first collegiate RBI with a groundout later in the inning to make it 10-3.
 
AAMU scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to chase Vige'. Senior ace Taylor Bishop came in and closed the door, recording the final three outs to secure the 10-5 victory.
 
AAMU – 000 021 2 – 5 8 0 (0-7)
SLU – 012 052 x – 10 14 3 (8-1)
Caitlyn Hayden, Emily Lipinski (5) and Kia Lang. Peyton Pigniolo, Madison Vige' (5), Taylor Bishop (7) and Whitney Sullivan, Lacey Fritz (5). W – Pigniolo (2-1). L – Hayden (0-3). HR – SLU: Taylor Estain. 3B – SLU: Kinsey Nichols. 2B – AAMU: Brandi Foreman, Jordan Bradley. T – 2:26. A – 242.
 
Game Two – Southeastern Louisiana 9, Alabama A&M 1 (6 Innings)
Lacour's speed staked SLU to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Port St. Joe, Florida native singled to lead off an later scored on a throwing error by Lady Bulldog sophomore shortstop Kia Lang.
 
The Lady Lions added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning. Lacour singled, stole second and scored the frame's first run on an RBI single up the middle by Nichols. A pair of throwing errors allowed Nichols to come all the way home from first and push the SLU advantage to 3-0.
 
While VanHemelryck was dominating the AAMU hitters, Southeastern put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Lady Lions batted around in the four-run frame. Freshman outfielder Jaquelyn Ramon doubled home the inning's first run. Freshman Brittney Wingate, Nichols and Sather would all drive in runs to give the Lady Lions a commanding 7-0 lead.
 
VanHemelryck sat down seven in row before Alabama A&M took advantage of an error by Ramon to score an unearned run in the top of the sixth inning, cutting the Lady Lion cushion to 7-1.
 
Southeastern ended the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Fairchild singled home the inning's first run, then Nichols scored on a Fritz sacrifice fly to enforce the mercy rule.
 
AAMU – 000 001 – 1 3 5 (0-8)
SLU – 102 402 – 9 10 1 (9-1)
Raven Christiansen, Rachel Sanders (5) and Sierra Smith, Taylor Cooper. Caitlyn VanHemelryck and Whitney Sullivan, Carlie Whittington (3). W – VanHemelryck (1-0). L – Christiansen (0-1). 2B – AAMU: Ariel Smith; SLU: Jaquelyn Ramon. T – 1:37. A – 242.