COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team capped the opening day of the Reveille Classic with an 8-0 mercy rule victory over host Texas A&M Friday evening at Davis Diamond.
 
Alley McDonald and MC Comeaux (4-0) combined to hold Texas A&M (12-7), which entered the game ranked second nationally with 34 doubles, to six hits in the shutout victory.
 
Southeastern (13-4) earned its first win over an SEC opponent since a 3-2 walk-off victory over Ole Miss on April 7, 2014. Ella Manzer led SLU at the plate with four RBI, while Kelci Bodin, Madisen Blackford and Madison Watson all drove in runs. Aeriyl Mass led the Lady Lions with two runs scored.
 
In the opening game of the day, a four-run first inning was too much for SLU to overcome as its rally fell short in a 6-5 loss to Kansas (7-9). Briahna Bennett, Audrey Greely and Mass had two hits apiece in the loss for Southeastern.
 
Up Next
Southeastern will close the tournament on Saturday, facing Kansas at 11 a.m. and Texas A&M at 1:15 p.m. The game with the Aggies will be televised on SEC Network+.
 
Game One – Kansas 6, Southeastern Louisiana 5
The Jayhawks jumped on top in the bottom of the first inning versus SLU starter Tanner Wright (1-1). Brittany Jackson led off the frame with a triple to centerfield, then Sam Dellinger belted the next pitch over the left centerfield fence.
 
Two outs later, Shelby Gayre chased Wright from the game with another home run. An RBI double by Becki Monaghan allowed by Sophie Hannabas capped the inning's scoring and put SLU in an early 4-0 hole.
 
Southeastern answered in its half of the second inning with a two-out rally. Ali McCoy singled and scored on an RBI single by Bodin to cut the KU lead to 4-1.
 
Kansas got the run back in the bottom of the second, as an RBI double by Morgyn Wynne gave the Jayhawks a 5-1 advantage.
 
The Lady Lions started their comeback in the top of the third inning, as Greely led off the frame with a bunt single, was sacrificed to second by Cameron Goodman, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Mass. One out after a single by Lindsey Rizzo put a pair of runners on, Bennett cleared the bases with a two-run double to cut the Jayhawk lead to 5-4.
 
Kansas padded its lead in the bottom of the third inning, as Gayre led off the inning with her second home run of the game to put KU up, 6-4.
 
The Jayhawks seemed poised to bust the game open in the bottom of the fifth inning, loading the bases with one out. Heather Zumo came in and retired Madison Hirsch and Cheyenne Hornbuckle to keep the deficit at 6-4.
 
SLU mounted one last threat in the top of the seventh inning. Bodin walked to lead off the inning, moved to second on a bunt single by Greely and scored on a throwing error by third baseman Ashlyn Anderson. Mass beat out an infield single to put the go-ahead run aboard with one out, but KU pitcher Tatum Goff (4-3) retired Rizzo and Blackford to secure the victory.
 
Game Two – Southeastern Louisiana 8, Texas A&M 0 (6 Innings)
Southeastern jumped on Texas A&M starter Kayla Poynter (4-2), who entered the game with a 0.97 ERA, in the top of the first inning. Mass drew a walk to lead off the game, moved to third on consecutive sacrifice bunts by Rizzo and Blackford, then scored on a sharp single up the middle by Manzer that put SLU up, 1-0.
 
Texas A&M threatened in the bottom of the first inning against McDonald. Makinzy Herzog drew a leadoff walk and was poised to score one out later on a single by Haley Lee. However, Goodman gunned her down at home for the inning's second out. One pitch later, McDonald retired Jourdyn Campbell to end the Aggie threat.
 
Poynter retired eight Lady Lions in a row before SLU added to its advantage in the top of the fourth inning. McCoy singled and then scored when Bodin drummed a triple off the right field fence, giving Southeastern a 2-0 lead.
 
The first two batters in the fourth inning reached for the Aggies then McDonald gave way to Comeaux. The freshman from Port Allen, Louisiana retired Ashlynn Walls, Dani Elder and Amaya Montano to maintain the two-run cushion.
 
Southeastern broke the game open over the next two innings. In the top of the fifth, Mass walked, Rizzo singled and Blackford walked to load the bases. Manzer followed with a double off the centerfield fence that cleared the bases and gave SLU a 5-0 lead.
 
In the sixth, Bodin was hit by a pitch and scored on a throwing error by Texas A&M reliever Hannah Mayo. Later in the frame, RBI groundouts by Blackford and Madison Watson gave SLU an 8-0 lead.
 
Comeaux made the lead stand up, punctuating a 1-2-3 inning with a strike out of Meagan Smith to secure the run-rule victory. The win ended a stretch of 10 straight losses to SEC competition and was SLU's first win over a Power 5 opponent under fifth-year head coach Rick Fremin. It was also the program's first shutout of an SEC opponent since a 1-0 win over LSU on April 25, 2007.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @LionUpSoftball 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 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.