GULFPORT, Miss. – Southeastern Louisiana shook off a rough opening day at the Gulfport Invitational, bouncing back with a pair of victories on day two of the tournament on Saturday at the Gulfport Sportsplex.
 
The Lady Lions (10-4) opened the day with a 4-2 victory over IPFW (2-11). In the win, junior third baseman Mychal Truxillo and sophomore second baseman Grace DeLee had two hits apiece, while senior shortstop Katie Lacour stole three bases. Freshman Peyton Pigniolo (3-1) picked up the win in the circle, while senior Taylor Bishop earned her first save of the spring.
 
Southeastern closed the day with a 10-7 victory over Memphis (3-10). The Lady Lions rallied from an early 4-0 deficit, exploding for eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman catcher Whitney Sullivan led SLU with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate, including her first collegiate home run. Bishop (6-1) went the distance in the circle, striking out five in the complete game effort.
 
SLU head coach Rick Fremin was pleased how his team bounced back from Friday's losses to Southern Miss and Baylor.
 
"We felt like we let one slip away against Southern Miss yesterday," Fremin commented. "I was pleased how we responded today and put together a great team effort. The thing that really stood out to me was the way we stayed in it and fought for 14 innings today. It was a great day for Southeastern."
 
Southeastern will look to close out the tournament on a high note, as the Lady Lions will face Fremin's previous team, Jackson State, on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
 
Game One – Southeastern Louisiana 4, IPFW 2
The Lady Lions took advantage of an IPFW error to scratch across the game's first run off Mastadon senior pitcher Sarah Lazarowich (1-5) in the top of the second inning. Freshman outfielder Taylor Estain walked, advanced to second on a DeLee single and scored on a throwing error by IPFW freshman second baseman Lauren Watson to stake Southeastern to a 1-0 lead.
 
Southeastern scored all the runs it would need in the top of the fourth inning. Senior Amanda Livaudais pinch ran for Sullivan after the Walker, Louisiana native drew a leadoff walk. Livaudais would score on a Lazarovich error, while Lacour and senior first baseman Amber Sather drove in runs later in the inning on a pair of RBI singles to give SLU a 4-0 lead.
 
IPFW finally got to Pigniolo in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore outfielder Jenna Balthazor singled home the Mastadons' first run to cut the SLU lead to 4-1.
 
Senior Madison Vige' relieved Pigniolo to start the fifth and held IPFW scoreless until the Mastadons made a last threat in the bottom of the seventh inning. Watson walked to lead off the inning and eventually scored on an RBI groundout by junior first baseman Kelly Pevely to slice the Lady Lion advantage to 4-2.
 
With the winning run coming to the plate, Fremin went to his ace to close it out. Bishop forced sophomore third baseman Sierra Miranda to ground out to earn her first save of 2016.

Game Two – Southeastern Louisiana 10, Memphis 7
Memphis took the early lead in the top of the second against Bishop. The first four batters reached to force in a run, then a two-run single by Kyler Trosclair gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
 
Southeastern was poised to cut into the lead in the bottom of the second. Singles by DeLee and freshman outfielder Jaquelyn Ramon, along with a Sullivan walk loaded the bases with one out, but Memphis freshman Bayleigh Wisher was able to pitch out of the jam to keep Southeastern off the board.
 
Memphis added to its lead in the top of the third inning. Junior catcher Brittney Seale singled, advanced to third on a double by junior first baseman Lindsey Stickrod and scored on a groundout by sophomore designated player Brooke Lee to take a 4-0 lead.
 
Southeastern roared back by sending 12 batters to the plate in an eight-run bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore designated player Brittney Wingate had a two-run single, while Sather drove in another run during the inning. SLU also took advantage of three Tiger errors to score five unearned runs in the inning and take an 8-4 lead.
 
Sophomore outfielder Kinsey Nichols used her speed to add to the Lady Lion advantage in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Alvin, Texas native walked, stole second, moved to third on an error by Seale and scored on a wild pitch to give SLU a 9-4 edge. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Sullivan hit her first home run as a Lady Lion to provide an insurance run for Southeastern.
 
After early struggles, Bishop held Memphis at bay before the Tigers rallied in the top of the seventh inning. Memphis took advantage of a passed ball and two errors to cut the lead to 10-7, but Nichols gunned freshman outfielder Jessie Lamb at the plate for the game's final out.