HAMMOND, La. – A dominant performance in the circle backed up the Southeastern Louisiana softball team's trademark aggressiveness on the base paths, as the Lady Lions ran past Morehead State in the finale of Lion Classic II Sunday afternoon at North Oak Park.
 
Southeastern improved to 6-2 overall with the victory. Hill (3-0), a native of Kilbourne, Louisiana, allowed one hit in five shutout innings of relief to remain undefeated in her first season with SLU out of East Central (Miss.) Community College.
 
Sophomore Carlie Whittington led Southeastern with two hits, while junior Mahalia Gibson, senior Mychal Truxillo and freshman Ali McCoy also recorded hits. Juniors Maddie Edmonston and Kinsey Nichols had two stolen bases each.
 
Nichols used her speed to give Southeastern the lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Alvin, Texas native was hit by a pitch, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch to put the Lady Lions up, 1-0.
 
Morehead State came right back to tie it in the top of the second inning thanks to an unearned run. In the third, Cassie Griffin and Kayla McGuffey led off the inning with consecutive singles to chase sophomore starter Caitlyn VanHemelryck from the game. A sacrifice fly by Kylie Holton allowed the go-ahead run to score and give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.
 
Southeastern answered in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore Jaquelyn Ramon drew a leadoff walk and promptly stole second. Edmonston followed with a bunt right back to the circle, but the throw by MSU's Chelsea McManaway was too much for the first baseman to handle, allowing Ramon to race home with the tying run.
 
Edmonston, who leads SLU with 10 stolen bases this season, stole second and third. Holton's throw to third sailed wide and allowed Edmonston to score the go-ahead run.
 
That was plenty for Hill, who allowed just one infield single, over the final four innings. SLU added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Truxillo singled and later scored on an RBI single by McCoy. Hill sat down the Eagles in order in the seventh to ice the victory.
 
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
UT Arlington 12, Buffalo 3
UT Arlington 1, Middle Tennessee State 0
Southeastern 6, Middle Tennessee State 5
Southeast Missouri 2, Southeastern 0
 
Field Two
Alcorn State vs. Buffalo – No Results Available
Alcorn State vs. Morehead State – No Results Available
 
Sunday, Feb. 19
 
Field One
UT Arlington 3, Morehead State 0
Southeastern 4, Morehead State 2
 
Field Two
Southeast Missouri 7, Buffalo 6 (8 Innings)
Southeast Missouri 3, Alcorn State 2
 
Field Three
Middle Tennessee State 10, Alcorn State 2 (6 Innings)
 
Home teams in bold
Live video (no audio) and stats will be available for games on Field One only.