HAMMOND, La. – Mississippi State used a five-run fifth inning to pull away for a 9-1 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in non-conference softball action Tuesday evening at North Oak Park.
 
The Lady Lions fell to 8-7 overall with the loss. Mississippi State (12-3) hit three home runs on the way to their seventh consecutive victory.
 
Junior outfielder Kinsey Nichols led SLU at the plate with two hits and the team's lone RBI. Sophomore shortstop Jaquelyn Ramon scored the Lady Lions' lone run and stole two bases in the loss.
 
Mississippi State took the lead in the top of the first inning versus SLU junior starter Rachel Hayes (2-4). After the Bulldogs loaded the bases with two outs, Caroline Seitz lined a double just out of the reach of a diving Nichols to stake MSU to a 2-0 lead.
 
The Bulldogs added to their lead in their half of the third. Morgan Bell pulled a home run over the left field fence, then Calyn Adams beat out an RBI infield single later in the frame to give MSU a 4-0 lead.
 
Southeastern threatened against MSU ace Alexis Silkwood (7-0) in the bottom of the third. Singles by Ramon and junior outfielder Maddie Edmonston, followed by junior infielder Mahalia Gibson drawing a walk loaded the bases with two outs. However, Silkwood recovered to retire freshman designated player Mattie Ort to end the threat.
 
The Bulldogs blew the game open in the top of the fifth inning. Home runs by Olivia Golden and Katie Anne Bailey accounted for the inning's first two runs, then MSU took advantage of two SLU errors to take a commanding 9-0 lead.
 
Southeastern was able to avoid the shutout in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ramon reached when she was hit by a pitch, then Edmonston walked to put a pair of runners on with no outs. After both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch by reliever Cassady Knudsen, Nichols lined a RBI single into center to score Ramon. Edmonston tried to score from second, but Amanda Ivy threw a perfect strike to the plate to prevent the St. Amant, Louisiana native from scoring. Nichols was then thrown out trying to steal and Knudsen struck out Gibson to enforce the mercy rule.
 
Southeastern will head to the UT Volunteer Classic, which runs Thursday through Sunday in Knoxville, Tennessee. SLU will face Ohio at 11:30 a.m. and No. 15 Tennessee at 2 p.m. on the opening day of the tournament. Both times listed are Central and the game versus the host Volunteers will also air on SEC Network+.