KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team closed out play at the UT Volunteer Classic Saturday with a 6-5 eight-inning loss to Bradley at Lee Stadium.
 
Southeastern fell to 9-11 overall with the loss, while Bradley improved to 10-8 in 2017.
 
Junior outfielder Kalyn Watts and freshman designated player Mattie Ort led SLU with two hits apiece, as both, along with junior infielder Mahalia Gibson each drove in a run apiece. Junior outfielder Maddie Edmonston led SLU with two runs scored. As a team, Southeastern stole eight bases, as Ort, sophomore shortstop Jaquelyn Ramon and junior outfielder Peyton Sutton swiped two bags apiece.
 
Southeastern jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Junior outfielder Kinsey Nichols walked, moved to third on a Watts single and scored on an illegal pitch by Julie Kestas.
 
SLU junior pitcher Lacey Hill (4-3) made the lead stand up until Bradley tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Elizabeth Leonard singled, stole second and moved to third on a single by Katie Habryle. Leonard would then score on an RBI groundout by Gabby Stoner.
 
The Lady Lions came right back in the top of the sixth inning. Edmonston reached on an error, stole second and scored on an RBI double by Gibson to extend the lead to 2-1.
 
Bradley answered in its half of the sixth inning. Consecutive doubles by Caitlyn McCarron and Stephanie Campos tied the score at 2-2.
 
Ort led off the top of the seventh inning with her first collegiate triple. The Walker, Louisiana native then stole home to send the Lady Lions into the Braves' final at-bat with a 3-2 lead.
 
Bradley forced extras with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. After Bradley loaded the bases with two outs against junior reliever Rachel Hayes, Hill came back into the game. A passed ball allowed Bradley to tie the game and force the game into the eighth inning.
 
Edmonston was placed on second to start the frame, then scored on an RBI single by Watts. Watts would later score on an RBI single by Ort to push the SLU lead to 5-3.
 
However in the bottom of the eighth, Leonard doubled in Brooklyn Bane, who was placed on second to start the inning. Later in the frame, Maria Schroeder ended the game with a walkoff two-run double to give the Braves the comeback win.
 
Southeastern will return home and close out its pre-conference schedule with a 5 p.m. non-conference contest versus Southern Miss on Tuesday at North Oak Park. LionVision subscribers will be able to access a live video stream (no audio) at www.LionSports.net/watch.