HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team extended its win streak to five games and completed a series sweep of Sam Houston with a 2-0 shutout victory Saturday afternoon at the Bearkat Softball Complex.
Southeastern (34-17, 17-7 Southland), added to its single-season school record for victories, with Saturday's win. The Lady Lions have won 11 of their last 12 games after sweeping the host Bearkats (19-31, 10-14 Southland) and are a game behind league leader Nicholls heading into the final series of the weekend.
Senior
Rachel Hayes (15-7) won her sixth straight decision in the circle, as the Ocean Springs, Mississippi native tossed a complete-game two-hit shutout to help SLU to the victory.
The Lady Lion offense was led by senior
Mahalia Gibson, who was 2-for-3 with a home run and drove in both SLU runs. Gibson now leads Southeastern with 11 home runs and a single-season school record 53 RBI.
Sam Houston State mounted the game's first threat in the bottom of the first inning. Bearkat sophomore hit a triple over the head of SLU sophomore right fielder
Ali McCoy with one out. However, Hayes recovered to retire junior Codi Carpenter and freshman Brooke Malia to keep the Bearkats off the board.
The Bearkats loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning on an error and a pair of walks. Hayes struck out Malia to end the threat and keep the game scoreless.
SHSU junior starter Lindsey McLeod (12-12) faced the minimum through the first three innings before Gibson gave SLU a 1-0 lead with a towering two-out solo home run over the left field fence.
The Lady Lions added to their lead in the top of the sixth inning. Senior
Kinsey Nichols flared a single into left field, stole second and scored on an RBI single up the middle by Gibson to put SLU ahead, 2-0.
Hayes was masterful on the way to closing out the victory. The Lady Lion ace retired 10 straight Bearkats to earn her fourth shutout of the season and improve to 12-2 with a 1.50 ERA in Southland games.
SLU heads to Lake Charles for a three-game series at McNeese. The series opens with a 6 p.m. contest on Friday and concludes with a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.
