HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team outscored Howard, 24-3, on the way to a season-opening doubleheader sweep Friday afternoon at North Oak Park.
 
The Lady Lions (2-0) opened the day with a 12-2 victory, before taking the nightcap, 12-1. Southeastern head coach Rick Fremin was pleased with his team's effort in the opening games of his third season in Hammond.
 
"I was pleased with our offensive production and I thought we had a lot of quality at-bats," Fremin commented. "Our pitching staff as a whole did well and we played a pretty clean game defensively. We were thankful the weather cooperated and we were able to get these games in today."
 
Southeastern finished with 21 hits in the two wins, led by senior infielder Mahalia Gibson who finished with a 5-for-7 performance at the plate. Gibson and junior infielder Rebecca Skains each had five RBI apiece to lead SLU. Gibson also scored a team-high four runs, followed by senior outfielder Maddie Edmonston, junior shortstop Jaquelyn Ramon and senior outfielder Kinsey Nichols with three runs each.
 
Seniors Rachel Hayes (1-0) and Lacey Hill (1-0) each picked up wins in the circle on Friday. Hayes, Hill, sophomore Tanner Wright, freshman Shelby Sitzman and sophomore Alley McDonald combined to hold the visiting Bison to nine hits and one earned run.  
 
Friday's doubleheader starts a string of eight straight home contests to start the season for SLU. On Tuesday, SLU will celebrate Mardi Gras by hosting Louisiana Tech at 5 p.m. at North Oak Park.
 
Fans who wear their best Mardi Gras attire to Tuesday's game will receive a discounted ticket. Live video (LionVision subscription required – no audio) and stats for the game with the Bulldogs will be accessible on the softball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
Game One – Southeastern Louisiana 12, Howard 2 (5 Innings)
SLU jumped out to a 4-0 lead versus Howard pitcher Desiree Renteria (0-2) in the bottom of the first inning. Ramon opened the game with a single, stole second and scored on a triple off the right field fence by freshman outfielder Madisen Blackford. Gibson singled Blackford home, then scored two outs later on an RBI triple by sophomore outfielder Rae'Shaun Malancon. Malancon later scored to cap the inning's scoring when Edmonston was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
 
The Lady Lions blew the game open even further in the bottom of the third inning. Blackford, Gibson, Skains and freshman infielder Madison Watson all drove in runs in the inning, while two more runs came in on a Bison error. Southeastern sent 10 to the plate in the six-run frame to take a 10-0 lead.
 
Southeastern padded its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, as freshman Camryn Flanagan stole home and Carlie Whittington caught Howard catcher Breanna Robinson napping to score another run and give SLU a 12-0 advantage.
 
Howard scratched across a couple of unearned runs off Sitzman in the top of the fifth inning. The Rockport, Indiana native was able to limit the damage and secure the mercy-rule victory.
 
Game Two – Southeastern Louisiana 12, Howard 1
SLU took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of the nightcap. Nichols drew a one-out walk, stole second and third and scored on a triple by Gibson. Skains followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Gibson and stake the Lady Lions to the early advantage.
 
Howard loaded the bases with no outs in its half of the second, but Hill limited the damage to one run and helped SLU maintain the lead.
 
Any hopes of a Bison upset were thwarted over the next two innings. In the bottom of the second, freshman Anna Rodenberg scored on a Bison error, then Ramon, Gibson and Skains followed with RBI to push the SLU lead to 6-0.
 
Southeastern doubled its advantage in the bottom of the third inning, sending 10 to the plate in a six-run frame. Sophomore Mattie Ort laced a one-out double and then scored all the way from second on an RBI groundout by freshman catcher Ella Manzer. Edmonston followed with a single, stole second and scored when Ramon reached on an error. Ramon would later come home on an RBI single by Gibson. A two-run double by Skains and an RBI single by Watson put Southeastern firmly ahead, 12-1.
 
The output would be plenty to put Howard away. Hill tossed a scoreless fourth, then McDonald closed out the sweep with a 1-2-3 fifth inning to clinch the run-rule win.