HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team dropped a pair of decisions to Abilene Christian in a Southland Conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon at North Oak Park.
In the opener, Southeastern (12-12, 0-3 Southland) allowed six unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning in a 6-5 loss. Sophomore outfielder
Kinsey Nichols led SLU at the plate with two hits and three runs batted in.
Abilene Christian (9-11, 3-0 Southland) scored six runs in the fourth and four runs in the fifth on the way to a 13-2 victory over the Lady Lions in the series finale. Junior third baseman
Mychal Truxillo drove in a pair of runs in the loss for Southeastern.
SLU freshman shortstop
Jaquelyn Ramon stole three bases on Sunday. Her three steals give Southeastern a total of 62 for the season – matching the single-season school record set in 1986.
Southeastern will return to action on Wednesday, hosting Southeast Missouri in a 3 p.m. doubleheader. Live stats and live video (LionVision subscription required) will be accessible at LionSports.net.
Wednesday will be Local Heroes Night at North Oak Park. All first responders will receive free admission if they attend in uniform or present a valid ID.
Game One – Abilene Christian 6, Southeastern Louisiana 5After ACU left the bases loaded in the top of the second inning against SLU freshman pitcher
Caitlyn VanHemelryck (1-1), the Lady Lions took the lead in the bottom of the frame. Truxillo walked, senior outfielder
Amanda Livaudais reached on an error and Ramon was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Senior outfielder
Katie Lacour and sophomore second baseman
Grace DeLee drew consecutive bases-loaded walks to force in the game's first two runs. Nichols followed with an RBI single to centerfield to give SLU a 3-0 lead.
VanHemelryck was cruising until ACU exploded for six runs in the top of the fifth inning. A three-run double by sophomore outfielder Brianna Barnhill and two Southeastern errors allowed the Wildcats to take a 6-3 lead.
Southeastern cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-out rally. Singles by Ramon and Lacour, followed by a DeLee walk loaded the bases. Nichols followed with a two-run single up the middle to cut the lead to 6-5.
ACU sophomore pitcher Hannah Null (5-5) forced senior first baseman
Amber Sather to ground out for the inning's final out to preserve the lead. Null closed it out by retiring the Lady Lions in order in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Game Two – Abilene Christian 13, Southeastern Louisiana 2 (5 Innings)The Wildcats took the lead against SLU senior
Taylor Bishop (7-7) in the top of the first inning. With two outs, sophomore shortstop Peyton Hedrick battled through a 13-pitch at-bat and lined a solo home run over the left field fence to stake ACU a 1-0 advantage.
Southeastern took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. DeLee reached on catcher's interference then Nichols walked to put a pair of runners on. One out later, Truxillo ripped her team-high fifth double of the season into the left field corner to clear the bases and give SLU a 2-1 lead.
Abilene Christian reclaimed the lead in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Lacour was playing shallow in center and senior second baseman Demi McNulty doubled over her head to score two runs and put ACU up, 3-2.
Southeastern threatened in the bottom of the third inning. Consecutive singles by DeLee and Nichols put a pair of runners on with two outs, but ACU junior starter Casey-May Huff (2-0) retired the next three Lady Lions to maintain the Wildcat edge.
ACU busted the game open in the top of the fourth inning, scoring six runs and sending 11 batters to the plate. A two-run triple by junior outfielder Taylor Brown and a three-run home run by sophomore third baseman Holly Neese highlighted the explosion that gave the Wildcats a 9-2 lead.
Abilene Christian ended any hopes of a Southeastern comeback in its half of the fifth. The Wildcats scored four runs in the inning to extend the lead to 13-2.
Huff retired the Lady Lions in order in the bottom of the fifth inning to enforce the mercy rule. The loss extended Southeastern's losing streak to eight games, while ACU won its sixth straight contest.
