HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana used a 14-hit attack and another dominant pitching performance by Alley McDonald to complete a Southland Conference series sweep of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with an 11-0 mercy rule win in league softball action Saturday afternoon at North Oak Park.
 
SLU (19-11, 7-2 Southland) extended its win streak to seven games with its sixth straight victory. McDonald (6-3), Sophie Hannabas and Caitlyn VanHemelryck combined to hold the visiting Islanders (4-27, 1-8 Southland) to two hits in Saturday's win.
 
The Lady Lions got production up and down the order in Saturday's win. Madisen Blackford hit a two-run home run, while Ali McCoy and Amberlyn Alfano also had two RBI. McCoy, Alfano, Mima Doucet and Madison Watson each had two hits apiece, while McCoy led Southeastern with three runs scored.
 
The SLU offensive production backed up McDonald, who continued her hot streak, allowing one hit in four shutout innings on the way to winning her fifth straight decision. The Whitehouse, Tennessee native is 4-0 with a miniscule 0.27 earned run average in conference play.
 
After a scoreless first inning, SLU jumped on top versus Alexis Ruel (1-11) in the bottom of the second inning. After McCoy reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, Alfano pulled an RBI single down the first base line to score McCoy. Later in the inning, Jaquelyn Ramon singled to left to score Alfano and give the Lady Lions a 2-0 lead.
 
Any chance of an Islander comeback was quelled in the bottom of the third, as SLU sent 10 to the plate. Madisen Blackford's second home run of the season highlighted a five-run frame as the Lady Lions took a commanding 7-0 advantage.
 
Southeastern batted around again in the bottom of the fourth inning. McCoy doubled home a run, while Hannah Blackford, Caroline Manzer and Briahna Bennett each drove in runs to stretch the SLU advantage to 11-0.
 
The Islanders never threated against McDonald. Hannabas and VanHemelryck combined to throw a scoreless fifth inning to close out the run-rule victory.
 
SLU will play its next two league series on the road, starting with a three-game set at Northwestern State scheduled for next weekend in Natchitoches. The series, which opens with a 5 p.m. contest on Friday and concludes with a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, will be the inaugural battle for the Cypress Trophy.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events (softball, baseball, football and basketball), effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.
 
HOME RUN CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the softball program are encouraged to join the Home Run Club. Lady Lion softball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Home Run Club and S Club (softball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern softball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @SLUlionsoftball on Twitter and Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.