HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team opened Lion Classic II with a 9-1 victory over Buffalo Friday afternoon at North Oak Park.
 
The Lady Lions' second game of the day versus UT Arlington, as well as the Morehead State versus Middle Tennessee State game on Field Two, was rained out and will not be made up.
 
The tournament will resume as scheduled on Saturday. Live stats and video (no audio) will be available at www.LionSports.net for all the games on Field One.
 
The top three batters in the Southeastern order helped the Lady Lions roll to a five-inning win over the Bulls. Junior outfielder Kinsey Nichols was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI. Junior second baseman Mahalia Gibson drove in three runs, while junior outfielder Maddie Edmonston had two RBI and three runs scored.
 
In the circle, junior Lacey Hill (2-0) threw four no-hit shutout innings to earn the win for SLU (4-1). Senior Kasey Nielson and freshman Tanner Wright combined to throw the fifth inning.
 
Buffalo mounted the game's first threat in the top of the first, loading the bases with no outs versus Hill. The Kilbourne, Louisiana native bounced back by striking out Catrell Robertson and Danielle Lallos, then retiring Jessica Goldyn to keep the Bulls off the board.
 
Southeastern jumped on top against Brieanna Baker (0-1) in the bottom of the first inning. Edmonston walked and Nichols singled to put a pair on, then Gibson lined a double over the head of left fielder Ufouma Ogagan to clear the bases to give SLU a 2-0 lead.
 
The Lady Lions batted around in a four-run bottom of the second inning. A two-run double by Edmonston opened the scoring, followed by RBI singles by Nichols and Gibson gave the Lady Lions a 6-0 lead.
 
Southeastern added to its lead in the bottom of the third inning. Freshman Ali McCoy beat out an infield single, then Edmonston walked to put a pair of runners on with two outs. Nichols followed with a triple off the base of the centerfield fence to give the Lady Lions a commanding 8-0 lead.
 
Buffalo avoided the run rule temporarily in the top of the fifth inning. Alyssa Cuevas doubled to lead off the inning and scored on an RBI single by Ashton Earnhardt to cut the Lady Lion lead to 8-1.
 
Southeastern ended it in the bottom of the frame. Nichols beat out a bunt single and took advantage of two Buffalo errors to score the game-winning run.
 
On Saturday, Southeastern will face Middle Tennessee State at 3 p.m. and Southeast Missouri at 5 p.m.
 
2017 Lion Classic II – February 17-19, 2017 – North Oak Park
 
Friday, Feb. 17
 
Field One
Southeastern Louisiana 9, Buffalo 1 (5 innings)
Morehead State 4, Buffalo 0
Southeastern vs. UT Arlington, Cancelled
 
Field Two
Middle Tennessee State 8, Southeast Missouri 4
UT Arlington 5, Southeast Missouri 1
Morehead State vs. Middle Tennessee State, Cancelled
 
Saturday, Feb. 18
 
Field One
1 p.m. – UT Arlington vs. Middle Tennessee State
3 p.m. – Southeastern vs. Middle Tennessee State
5 p.m. – Southeastern vs. Southeast Missouri
 
Field Two
11 a.m. – UT Arlington vs. Buffalo
3 p.m. – Alcorn State vs. Buffalo
5 p.m. – Alcorn State vs. Morehead State
 
Sunday, Feb. 19
 
Field One
9 a.m. – UT Arlington vs. Morehead State
11 a.m. – Southeastern vs. Morehead State
 
Field Two
9 a.m. – Southeast Missouri vs. Buffalo
11 a.m. – Southeast Missouri vs. Alcorn State
 
Field Three
9 a.m. – Middle Tennessee State vs. Alcorn State
 
Home teams in bold
Live video (no audio) and stats will be available for games on Field One only.