Box Score

HAMMOND, La. – The Hitmen used 13 hits and a strong pitching performance by MC Comeaux to claim an 11-3 victory over the Headhunters in Game 5 of the Southeastern Louisiana Softball Fall World Series Wednesday afternoon at North Oak Park.
 
With the victory, the Hitmen kept the series alive, as the Headhunters saw its lead trimmed to 3-2 in the intrasquad series.
 
Comeaux (1-0) threw six shutout innings, scattering three hits and striking out five to help the Hitmen continue the series.
 
Brianha Bennett and Lindsey Rizzo shared the team lead for the Hitmen with three hits apiece. Bennett lead the team with four runs batted in, while Anna Rodenberg added three RBI. Cameron Goodman led the Hitmen with four runs scored, while Rizzo, Rodenberg and Kylie Chauvin scored two runs apiece.
 
The Headhunters were led at the plate by Ella Manzer, who finished 3-for-5 in her fall debut. Lexi Johnson drove in all three runs for the Headhunters.
 
Comeaux and Headhunter starting pitcher Heather Zumo matched zeroes until the Hitmen broke through in the top of the third inning. With a pair of runners in scoring position, Rodenberg beat out an infield single. Chauvin easily scored from third and the speedy Rizzo never stopped running from second, sliding under the tag and giving the Hitmen a 2-0 lead.
 
After giving up a single to Manzer in the bottom of the first inning, Comeaux retired 11 straight, allowing the Hitmen to further extend their lead. RBI singles by Comeaux and Gina Escude plated two runs in the top of the fourth inning to double the lead to 4-0. Bennett and Chauvin drove in runs in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, to give the Hitmen a 6-0 advantage.
 
The Headhunters finally scratched across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, thanks to a triple by Manzer and a Johnson sacrifice fly that cut the lead to 6-1.
 
The Hitmen quelled any thought of a Headhunter rally in the top of the eighth inning. Rodenberg singled the frame's first run home, then Madisen Blackford drew a bases loaded walk to force in another run. Bennett then ripped a three-run double down the left field line to clear the bases and give the Hitmen an 11-1 lead.
 
Johnson powered a two-run double off the top of the left centerfield fence in the bottom of the eighth inning to close the final margin to 11-3, but the Headhunters could get no closer.
 
The series concludes on Friday at 10:30 a.m. If the Hitmen take Game 6, Game 7 will be an extra inning played under international tiebreaker rules immediately following Game 6.
 
Fans can watch a free video stream using the Lions' Gameday Experience app for Android or iOS devices, the Southland Conference Digital Network app for smart TV devices (e.g. Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV and Roku) or through the Southeastern Athletics website at www.LionSports.net/SSN.
 
Southeastern Softball World Series
Game 1 – Hitmen 8, Headhunters 2
HM – 003 000 32 – 8 15 0
HH – 000 001 01 – 2 10 3
Shelby Sitzman, Anna Westberry (3), MC Comeaux (5), Alyssa Romano (7) and Gina Escude, Madisen Blackford (3). Ellie DuBois, Heather Zumo (3), Sophie Hannabas (6) and Sadie Hewitt, Ellie DuBois (5), Lexi Johnson (6). W – Westberry (1-0). L – Zumo (0-1). HR – HM: Briahna Bennett (1). 2B – HM: Lindsey Rizzo (1); HH: Sadie Hewitt 2 (2), Lexi Johnson (1).
 
Game 2 – Headhunters 16, Hitmen 10
HH – 200 463 01 – 16 16 1
HM – 000 160 30 – 10 12 5
Heather Zumo, Sophie Hannabas (4), Ellie DuBois (7) and Cameron Beal, Ellie DuBois (4), Lexi Johnson (7). Alyssa Romano, Shelby Sitzman (3), Anna Westberry (5), MC Comeaux (7) and Gina Escude, Madisen Blackford (5). W – Zumo (1-1). L – Romano (0-1). 3B – HH: Kelci Bodin (1), Audrey Greely (1); HM: Gina Escude (1), Cameron Goodman (1). 2B – HH: Ellie DuBois (1), Kylie Chauvin (1). T – 2:15.
 
Game 3 – Headhunters 18, Hitmen 5
HM – 100 031 00 – 5 10 4
HH – 801 009 0x – 18 18 0
Anna Westberry, MC Comeaux (1), Alyssa Romano (5), Shelby Sitzman (7) and Gina Escude, Kylie Chauvin (5). Sophie Hannabas, Heather Zumo (4), Ellie DuBois (5), Zumo (7) and Cameron Beal, Lexi Johnson (4), Beal (7). W – Hannabas (1-0). L – Westberry (1-1). 3B – HH: Audrey Greely 2 (3). 2B – HM: Gina Escude (1), Kylie Chauvin (2); HH: Lexi Johnson 2 (3), Ellie DuBois (2), Cameron Beal (1).
 
Game 4 – Headhunters 7, Hitmen 6
HH – 010 420 00 – 7 10 3
HM – 001 013 01 – 6 12 1
Kassie Salling, Heather Zumo (4), Sophie Hannabas (7) and Ellie DuBois, Lexi Johnson (5). Alyssa Romano, Shelby Sitzman (3), Romano (5) and Gina Escude, Kylie Chauvin (3), Madisen Blackford (5). W – Zumo (2-1). L – Sitzman (0-1). Save – Hannabas (1). 3B – HH: Aeriyl Mass (1). 2B – HH: Lexi Johnson 2 (5); HM: Anna Rodenberg (1), Madisen Blackford (1), Kylie Chauvin (3). T – 2:17.

Game 5 – Hitmen 11, Headhunters 3 (Headhunters lead 3-2)
HM – 002 211 05 – 11 13 4
HH – 000 000 12 – 3 7 5
MC Comeaux, Alyssa Romano (7), Shelby Sitzman (8) and Caroline Manzer, Gina Escude (3), C. Manzer (4), Escude (6), Kylie Chauvin (7), Madisen Blackford (8). Heather Zumo, Sophie Hannabas (4), Ellie DuBois (7) and Sadie Hewitt, Cameron Beal (4), Sadie Hewitt (5), Lexi Johnson (7). W – Comeaux (1-0). L – Zumo (2-2). 3B – HH: Ella Manzer (1). 2B – HM: Briahna Bennett (1); HH: Lexi Johnson (6). T – 2:22.
 
Friday, Oct. 23 – Game 6 and Game 7 (if necessary) – 10:30 a.m.
Game 7 will be an extra inning played under international tie-breaker rules immediately following Game 6, if necessary
 
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