LAKE CHARLES, La. – McNeese State scored three runs in the final two innings to rally past Southeastern Louisiana for a 3-1 Southland Conference softball victory in the opener of a three-game series Friday evening at Cowgirl Diamond.
 
Southeastern fell to 22-25 overall and 5-14 in Southland Conference play despite outhitting the Cowgirls, 8-4. McNeese State (31-10, 16-3 Southland) remained atop the league standings with the victory.
 
Senior Katie Lacour led the Lady Lions with two hits and scored her team-high 43^rd run of the season. Senior Amber Sather had SLU's lone RBI – her league-high 43^rd in 2016.
 
Southeastern took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Lacour singled, stole second, moved to third on a single by sophomore Kinsey Nichols and scored on a RBI groundout by Sather.
 
The Lady Lions looked to add to their lead in the top of the second inning. Junior Mychal Truxillo singled, then sophomore Grace DeLee reached on an error to put a pair of runners on with no outs. McNeese pitcher Emily Vincent (12-2) settled down, retiring three straight SLU batters to get out of the inning with the Lady Lion advantage remaining at 1-0.
 
Meanwhile, SLU freshman Caitlyn VanHemelryck (4-6) retired the first 11 batters she faced before the Cowgirls mounted their first threat in the bottom of the fourth inning. VanHemelryck hit Hailey Drew, then Morgan Catron flared a single into right centerfield to put a pair of runners on. VanHemelryck got out of the jam by forcing Tori Yanitor to ground out to third to end the frame.
 
The Cowgirls tied it up in an unusual manner in the top of the sixth inning. Taylor Goree walked and Shanice Hagler singled to put a pair of runners on with no outs. Justyce McLain followed and sacrificed the runners ahead to second and third.
 
With Southland Conference home run leader Erika Piancastelli up to bat, the Lady Lions intentionally walked the Cowgirl slugger. However, freshman catcher Whitney Sullivan dropped the fourth ball, allowing Goree to score the tying run on a passed ball.
 
McNeese State took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning. Catron led off the inning with a single, then advanced to third one out later when Vincent helped her cause with a double into the left field corner to chase VanHemelryck from the game.
 
Goree then laid down a suicide squeeze down the third base line against junior Kasey Nielson. Truxillo's throw home sailed high, allowing both Canton and Vincent to score.
 
Sullivan brought the tying run to the plate with a single in the top of the seventh inning. However, Vincent would not allow Southeastern to get any closer, sitting down sophomore Carlie Whittington and Lacour to close out the win.
 
The series concludes on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader. Live stats, provided by McNeese, will be accessible at www.LionSports.net.