HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team remained undefeated with a 10-2 victory over Grambling on the final day of the Lion Classic Sunday afternoon at North Oak Park.
 
The Lady Lions are off to a 5-0 start for the second time in the past three years. SLU clinched the tournament title with the mercy-rule victory over the Lady Tigers (0-4).
 
Briahna Bennett was 3-for-3 to lead a 13-hit Lady Lion attack, while Madisen Blackford, Ella Manzer and Audrey Greely each drove in two runs. Blackford, Lindsey Rizzo and Cameron Goodman all scored two runs apiece.
 
A trio of SLU pitchers limited Grambling to four hits and didn't allow an earned run. Alley McDonald (2-0) took the win, as she, Tanner Wright and Anna Westberry each struck out two batters.
 
The Lions hit .400 as a team on the opening weekend, outscoring opponents, 43-14, over the initial five games. All eight pitchers on the SLU pitching staff saw action, as Southeastern finished the Lion Classic with a 1.31 team earned run average.
 
"We did a great job running the table this weekend," Southeastern head coach Rick Fremin said. "Our offense got off to a great start on Friday and we found a way to win on Saturday. We did a good job closing out strong today.
 
"One of our goals was to get all of our pitchers some work this weekend and we were able to do that," Fremin added. "We need to clean some things up in the field moving forward, but overall this was a great start for us."
 
Southeastern wasted no time jumping on top in the bottom of the first inning. After a Rizzo single, Blackford ripped a triple into the right centerfield gap to score Rizzo. The throw in from the outfield was wild, allowing Blackford to score on the GSU error. Ella Manzer followed with a single, moved to third on a Bennett double and scored on an RBI single by Karlee Kraft to give SLU a 3-0 lead.
 
The Lady Lions broke the game open in the bottom of the second inning, sending 10 batters to the plate in a four-run frame. Manzer drove in a pair, while Bennett singled home a run and another run came home on a bases loaded catcher's interference, as SLU took a commanding 7-0 lead.
 
The Lady Tigers took advantage of a SLU error to scratch out a run in the top of the third, but Southeastern answered in the bottom of the frame. Goodman singled, stole second, advanced to third on an error and scored on a Blackford sacrifice fly to put the Lady Lions ahead, 8-1.
 
Southeastern closed out the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Manzer doubled and Bennett collected her third hit of the contest, Greely narrowly missed a home run, clearing the bases with a double drummed off the left centerfield wall. The first career extra-base hit for the freshman from Geismar, Louisiana gave SLU a 10-1 lead.
 
Grambling managed another unearned run in its half of the fifth. However, Westberry struck out Andreana Reynolds to secure the 10-2 mercy rule win.
 
Up Next
Southeastern will close out a six-game home stand to open the season next Wednesday, hosting UAB at 6 p.m. at North Oak Park. The Southeastern Sports Network will offer a free video stream of Wednesday's contest. Tune in online at www.LionSports.net or the Lions Game Day Experience app for Android or iOS devices. Fans can also watch on Southeastern's YouTube channel (/SLUathletics) with any mobile, tablet or smart TV device (e.g., Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV and Roku).
 
The first 75 fans through the gates will receive a "Lion Up or Leave" rally towel to wave when the Lady Lions hit a home run throughout the season.  Celebrate Valentine's Day early at North Oak Park with a couple's ticket as the Lady Lions host the Blazers. Two general admission tickets will be available for $8 and reserved chair backs will be available for $15.
 
2020 Lion Classic – February 7-9, 2020 – North Oak Park
 
Standings
Southeastern Louisiana – 5-0
UT Martin – 3-2
Buffalo – 2-2
Alabama State – 2-3
Grambling – 0-4
 
Friday, February 7
Buffalo 4, UT Martin 3
UT Martin 5, Alabama State 0
Southeastern Louisiana 11, Buffalo 3 (6 Innings)
Southeastern Louisiana 12, Alabama State 4 (5 Innings)
 
Saturday, February 8
Alabama State 10, Grambling 3
UT Martin 6, Alabama State 0
Buffalo 8, Grambling 7
Southeastern Louisiana 4, Buffalo 0
Southeastern Louisiana 6, UT Martin 5 (9 Innings)
 
Sunday, February 9
Alabama State 3, Buffalo 0
UT Martin 9, Grambling 1 (6 Innings)
Southeastern Louisiana 10, Grambling 2 (5 Innings)
 
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.
 
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