HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team capped the second day of the Lion Classic with a pair of victories Saturday night at North Oak Park.
 
The Lady Lions (4-0) closed the day with a thrilling 6-5, nine-inning victory over UT Martin (2-2). Madisen Blackford singled home Aeriyl Mass to give SLU the extra-inning triumph. MC Comeaux (1-0) allowed one hit and no unearned runs in 4.1 innings of relief versus the Skyhawks to earn her first collegiate victory.
 
In the opening game of the day for Southeastern, Karlee Kraft (1-0), Tanner Wright and Sophie Hannabas combined for a shutout in a 4-0 victory over Buffalo (2-2). Briahna Bennett hit her second home run of the season, while Lindsey Rizzo drove in a pair of runs in the win over the Bulls.
 
Up Next
Southeastern will face Grambling at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the finale of the Lion Classic.
 
Live stats for all tournament games will be available at www.LionSports.net/sidearmstats/softball. The Southeastern Sports Network will offer a free video stream of all of Southeastern's games only during the tournament. 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).
 
Game One – Southeastern Louisiana 4, Buffalo 0
The Lady Lions took the lead in the bottom of the second inning against Buffalo starter Alexis Lucyshyn (0-2). With one out, Bennett hit a mammoth home run off the flag pole in straight away centerfield. The Alexandria, Louisiana native's second home run in as many days put SLU up, 1-0.
 
SLU doubled its advantage in the bottom of the third inning. Cameron Goodman led off the frame with a single, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Rizzo to put Southeastern ahead, 2-0.
 
Kraft cruised through the first four innings, before Buffalo mounted a threat in the top of the fifth inning, loading the bases with no outs. Kraft retired Jenelle Martinez, Abigail Vincent and Lucyshyn to keep the Bulls off the board.
 
Southeastern added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. RBI singles by Goodman and Rizzo extended to the SLU advantage to 4-0.
 
Buffalo again loaded the bases in its half of the sixth, but Wright was able to retire Anna Aguon to keep the shutout bid alive. The first two Bulls reached in the top of the seventh inning, but a nice play by Blackford resulted in a double play. Hannabas struck out Brianna Castro for the game's final out.
 
Game Two – Southeastern Louisiana 6, UT Martin 5 (9 Innings)
Southeastern took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Ali McCoy singled to lead off the inning, advanced to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch by UTM starter Hannah Ridolfi to put the Lady Lions ahead, 1-0.
 
SLU starter Heather Zumo was efficient through the first three innings, before the Skyhawks took the lead in the top of the fourth inning. A three-run inside-the-park home run by Shyanne Sheffield to take a 3-1 lead.
 
Southeastern knotted the score in the bottom of the fifth. Aeriyl Mass was hit by a pitch, then Rizzo walked to put a pair of runners on. Both Mass and Rizzo would later score on a throwing error by Lex Rogers to tie the score at 3-3.
 
Comeaux and UT Martin reliever Seeley Layne (0-1) matched zeroes to send the game to extra innings. Gabbi Campbell was placed on second to start the top of the eighth inning and would later score on an infield single by Chayse Skinner to take a 4-3 lead.
 
Southeastern evened it up in the bottom of the eighth inning. Pryscilla Prince was placed on second to start the frame and beat the throw home on an RBI groundout by Madison Watson to send the game to the ninth inning deadlocked at 4-4.
 
After UTM retook the lead in the top of the ninth thanks to a SLU error, Southeastern won it in the bottom of the frame. Audrey Greely started the inning on second and scored on a one-out single by Mass. Mass stole second to put herself in scoring position, setting up Blackford's game-winning single. The Des Moines, Iowa native singled through the right side to give Southeastern the win.
 
2020 Lion Classic – February 7-9, 2020 – North Oak Park
 
Standings
Southeastern Louisiana – 4-0
UT Martin – 2-2
Buffalo – 2-2
Alabama State – 1-3
Grambling – 0-2
 
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
10 a.m. – Alabama State vs. Buffalo
12 p.m. – UT Martin vs. Grambling
2 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. Grambling (Southeastern Sports Network)
 
Home teams are underlined
 
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.