HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team won a pair of slugfests over South Dakota on day two of the Lion Classic Friday night at Mike Darouse Field on the St. Thomas Aquinas High School campus.
 
The Lady Lions (3-0) earned a pair of victories over the visiting Coyotes (0-3) in a doubleheader that saw the two teams combine for 55 runs, 45 hits and 43 walks.
 
In the opener, SLU used a seven-run sixth inning to earn a 14-9 victory. Briahna Bennett and Ellie DuBois drove in three runs apiece to fuel the Southeastern attack, which was buoyed by the 13 walks issued by South Dakota. MC Comeaux (1-0) scattered five hits in 4.2 innings of work to earn the win in the circle for Southeastern.
 
A nine-run second inning helped Southeastern overcome a seven-run deficit on the way to a wild 17-15 victory in the nightcap. Ella Manzer and Audrey Greely each drove in four runs, while DuBois hit her first home run as a Lady Lion. Heather Zumo (2-0), one night removed from throwing the seventh no-hitter in school history, struck out seven in 6.1 innings of work to secure the win for SLU.
 
The schedule for Saturday's Lion Classic has been altered. The day's action will start with a noon matchup between Nicholls and North Texas. At 2 p.m., Nicholls will face South Dakota. SLU will close out the day versus South Dakota at 4 p.m. and North Texas at 6 p.m. A decision will be made Saturday morning whether to continue at the all turf field at St. Thomas Aquinas HS or if the outfield is playable at North Oak Park.
 
Game One – Southeastern Louisiana 14, South Dakota 9
After being held hitless in Thursday's season opener, South Dakota wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first inning in the second game of 2021. A Lady Lion error and a run-scoring single by Lauren Wobken staked the Coyotes a 2-0 lead.
 
Southeastern answered in the bottom of the first inning. DuBois, Kelci Bodin and Audrey Greely drew consecutive two-out bases-loaded walks to give SLU a 3-2 advantage.
 
South Dakota retook the lead in its half of the second. An RBI double by Lauren Eamiguel and a sacrifice fly by Wobken put USD ahead, 4-3. The Coyotes added an unearned run in the top of the third inning to stretch their advantage to 5-3.
 
Southeastern reclaimed momentum in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bennett drove in a pair of runs with a bases loaded ground-rule double, before Lexi Johnson followed with an RBI single to put SLU up, 6-5.
 
The lead would be short-lived, however, as RBI by Charis Black and Courtney Wilson sandwiched an unearned run due to a SLU error in a three-run top of the fifth inning. A USD error in the bottom of the frame allowed Southeastern to pull within, 8-7.
 
South Dakota extended its lead in the top of the sixth inning. Dylan Underwood doubled and scored on consecutive wild pitches.
 
The 9-7 advantage would not be enough. Southeastern retook the lead without putting a ball in play, as South Dakota walked or hit five consecutive SLU batters, also uncorking two wild pitches, as Southeastern took an 11-9 lead. An RBI single by Bennett, followed by a two-run DuBois double sent the Lady Lions to the seventh inning with a 14-9 advantage.
 
Southeastern was able to make the lead stand. Comeaux shook off a pair of two-out walks to retire Wobken and secure the victory.
 
USD – 221 031 0 – 9 10 3 (0-2)
SLU – 300 317 x – 14 8 3 (2-0)
Alexis Devers, Sarah Lisko (2), Holly Fletcher (6), Devers and Jaden Gaja, Jordyn Pender. Sophie Hannabas, Kassie Salling (1), Shelby Sitzman (3), MC Comeaux (3) and Ella Manzer. W – Comeaux (1-0). L – Fletcher (0-2). 3B – USD: Charis Black (1). 2B – USD: Lauren Eamiguel (1), Dylan Underwood (1); SLU: Briahna Bennett (1), Ellie DuBois (1). T – 2:53. A – 128.
 
Game Two – Southeastern Louisiana 17, South Dakota 15
South Dakota placed Southeastern in a big hole in the top of the first inning. The Coyotes sent 12 batters to the plate in a seven-run frame to take a 7-0 lead.
 
Southeastern got on the board in the bottom of the first, as a two-run double by Ella Manzer cut the advantage to 7-2. South Dakota got the runs back in its half of the second on a two-run double by Makayla Tsagalis to take a 9-2 lead.
 
SLU erased it and then some in a nine-run bottom of the second. Greely drove in four runs in the inning, while Johnson had a two-run single during the frame. Bodin and Cameron Goodman also drove in runs, as Southeastern sent 14 batters to the plate on the way to an 11-9 advantage.
 
The Lady Lions padded their lead in the bottom of the third inning. An error led to the inning's first run, then DuBois bombed a two-run home run over the left field fence to provide SLU with a 14-9 cushion.
 
South Dakota just wouldn't go away, however. The Coyotes scored two in the fourth and then took a 15-14 lead with a four-run sixth inning.
 
Heads up base running by Greely and Cameron Goodman allowed SLU to tie the score in the bottom of the sixth. Manzer and Bennett followed with RBI of their own to give the Lady Lions a 17-15 lead.
 
Wilson drew a two-out walk in the top of the seventh inning to bring the tying run to the plate. However, Zumo fanned Gabby Moser to nail down the victory.
 
USD – 720 204 0 – 15 9 1 (0-3)
SLU – 293 003 x – 17 18 3 (3-0)
Alexis Devers, Sarah Lisko and Skylar Arellano, Jaden Gaja (2). MC Comeaux, Sophie Hannabas (1), Heather Zumo (1) and Ella Manzer. W – Zumo (2-0). L – Lisko (0-1). HR – SLU: Ellie DuBois (1). 2B – USD: Lauren Eamiguel (2), Makayla Tsagalis 2 (2); SLU: Ella Manzer (2), Briahna Bennett (2), Lexi Johnson (2), Audrey Greely (1). T – 2:52. A – 128.  
 
2021 Lion Classic – Hammond, Louisiana
 
Thursday, February 11
Southeastern Louisiana 11, South Dakota 0 (5 Innings)
 
Friday, February 12
Southeastern Louisiana 14, South Dakota 9
Southeastern Louisiana 17, South Dakota 15
 
Saturday, February 13
12 p.m. - Nicholls vs. North Texas (at St. Thomas Aquinas HS or SLU)
2 p.m. - Nicholls vs. South Dakota (at St. Thomas Aquinas HS or SLU)
4 p.m. - SLU vs. South Dakota (at St. Thomas Aquinas HS or SLU)*
6 p.m. - SLU vs. North Texas (at St. Thomas Aquinas HS or SLU)*
* - Game will be broadcast on Southeastern Sports Network if at SLU
 
Sunday, February 14
10 a.m. - South Dakota vs. Nicholls (at St. Thomas Aquinas HS or SLU)
12 p.m. - South Dakota vs. North Texas (at St. Thomas Aquinas HS or SLU)
2 p.m. - North Texas vs. Nicholls (at St. Thomas Aquinas HS or SLU)
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net/tickets. Southeastern is implementing mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets for the 2020-21 season. All tickets will be available via e-mail and text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
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.