NATCHITOCHES, La. – Southeastern Louisiana's
Madison Watson picked a fine time to hit her first home run of the 2019 season.
Watson's two-run bomb in the top of the ninth inning was the lone offense for either team as fifth-seeded SLU (34-21) defeated No. 4 seed Stephen F. Austin (34-20), 2-0, in the start of the double-elimination portion of the Southland Conference Tournament Tuesday evening at Lady Demon Diamond.
The Lady Lions, which picked up their second extra-inning win of the day, advance to face No. 1 seed Sam Houston State on Wednesday. With inclement weather in the forecast, the SLU-SHSU game has been pushed up to 9 a.m. Stephen F. Austin will play in a 4:30 p.m. elimination game.
Watson's clutch hit backed up a brilliant performance in the circle by SLU's
Karlee Kraft (5-1). The freshman from Ponchatoula, Louisiana scattered four hits in nine innings of shutout work.
Kraft and SFA ace Kassidy Wilbur (19-4) were mired in a pitcher's duel throughout as neither team could get much offense going until SLU mounted its first major threat in the top of the seventh inning.
Singles by
Madisen Blackford and
Amberlyn Alfano put a pair on with two outs. However, Wilbur retired
Bobbi Smith to keep SLU off the board.
The Ladyjacks mounted a threat of their own in the seventh, putting two on with no outs. Kraft deftly worked out of the jam and was bailed out when Blackford made a sliding catch in right field to rob a game-winning hit from Marisa Arriaga.
Southeastern had to get out of another tough situation in the Ladyjack eighth. Madison Clements led off the frame with a single, then was bunted to third by two consecutive sacrifices by Stephen F. Austin. Kraft kept her at third by forcing Bryana Novegil to fly out to center.
A single by
Mima Doucet set up Watson's game-winning bomb in the ninth inning.
2019 Southland Conference Tournament – May 7-10, 2019 – Natchitoches, La.
Tuesday, May 7 (Southland Digital Network)
Game 1 – No. 5 Southeastern Louisiana 7, No. 8 Central Arkansas 6 (8 Innings) (UCA eliminated)
Game 2 – No. 6 Northwestern State 4, No. 7 Lamar 0 (LU eliminated)
Game 3 – Southeastern Louisiana 2, Stephen F. Austin 0 (9 Innings)
Game 4 – No. 3 McNeese vs. Northwestern State, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 8 (Southland Digital Network)
Game 5 – No. 1 Sam Houston State vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 9 a.m.
Game 6 – No. 2 Nicholls vs. Game 4 Winner, 11:30 a.m.
Game 7 – Game 4 Loser vs. Game 5 Loser, 2 p.m.
Game 8 – Game 3 Loser vs. Stephen F. Austin, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 9 (Southland Digital Network)
Game 9 – Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 11 a.m.
Game 10 – Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner, 1:30 p.m.
Game 11 – Game 9 Loser vs. Game 10 Winner, 4 p.m.
Friday, May 10
Game 12 – Game 9 Winner vs. Game 11 Winner, 12 p.m. (ESPNU)
Game 13 – Rematch if Game 11 Winner also wins Game 12, TBA (ESPN3)
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT TICKETS
Tickets are on sale for the Southland Conference Softball Tournament, which will be played May 7-10 at Northwestern State's Lady Demon Diamond. Available options include an all-tournament pass ($20 for adults, $10 kids) and single-game tickets ($10 adults, $5 kids). With valid ID, students from Southland institutions will receive free admission. Tickets can be purchased at
nsudemons.com. Click "packages" for all-tournament passes. In addition, fans can call the ticket office at 318-357-4268 or buy tickets at the gate via cash or card.
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.
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.
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.
