HAMMOND, La. – Abilene Christian used a 13-hit attack and a strong pitching performance from senior Hannah Null to take the rubber game from Southeastern Louisiana, 7-1, in the finale of the two teams' opening series of Southland Conference softball play Saturday afternoon at North Oak Park.
 
SLU (12-10, 1-2 Southland) was held to six hits by Null (7-6). ACU (8-12, 2-1 Southland) touched up four Lady Lion pitchers for seven runs, all earned, to take the series.
 
Sophomore Ali McCoy led SLU at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored. McCoy came home as a result of an RBI single by senior Alli Daigle.
 
ACU jumped on top in its half of the second inning with a two-out rally versus senior Rachel Hayes (2-5). Senior Brianna Barnhill walked and freshman Briana Tijerina beat out an infield single to put a pair of runners on. Sophomore Caroline Adair, freshman Katelyn Belch and junior Donelle Johnson followed with consecutive RBI singles to give ACU a 3-0 lead.
 
SLU mounted a threat in the bottom of the second inning. McCoy doubled and freshman Madison Watson reached on an error to put runners on the corners with one out. However, freshman Anna Rodenberg took Watson's place on the base paths and was thrown out stealing. Null forced freshman Madisen Blackford to line out to keep Southeastern off the board.
 
The Wildcats added to their lead versus sophomore Alley McDonald in the top of the third inning. A two-out RBI single by Tijerina put the Wildcats up, 4-0.
 
SLU came up with another scoring opportunity in the bottom of the third. Junior Jaquelyn Ramon reached on an error and senior Kinsey Nichols singled to put a pair of runners on. However, Null recovered to retire senior Mahalia Gibson, junior Rebecca Skains and freshman Ella Manzer to end the inning.
 
ACU further padded its lead in the fourth inning. Johnson doubled in the frame's first run, while senior Braegan Hamilton singled in another run to put the Wildcats up, 6-0. Abilene Christian closed out its scoring in the top of the seventh inning on a solo home run by senior Holly Neese that put the Wildcats up, 7-0.
 
Southeastern avoided the shutout in the bottom of the seventh inning, as McCoy opened the inning with a double and later scored on an RBI single by Daigle. That would be as close as SLU would get, as Null retired senior Carlie Whittington, senior Peyton Sutton was thrown out trying to steal and Ramon struck out to allow the Wildcats to take the series.
 
Southeastern will return home to host Ole Miss at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14. In conjunction with the game, Southeastern will hold Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day, as all SLU faculty and staff will receive a discounted ticket.
 
Wednesday will also be a Cane's Challenge. If the Lady Lions score three or more runs, fans can redeem their game ticket or student coupon at their local participating Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers for a free combo with the purchase of another of equal or greater value. Live video (no audio – LionVision subscription required) and live stats will be accessible on the softball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.