NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team dropped a pair of decisions to Northwestern State in Southland Conference action Friday evening at Lady Demon Diamond.
 
Southeastern (26-21, 13-10 Southland) saw the host Lady Demons (22-19, 16-10 Southland) use big innings in both games to break open tie contests late and claim the Cypress Trophy for the second straight series.
 
After a two-run home run by Kelci Bodin tied the score in the top of the sixth inning of the opener, NSU answered with a five-run bottom half of the frame on the way to a 9-4 victory. Aeriyl Mass led SLU with two hits in the loss.
 
In the nightcap, the Lady Lions scored in each of the first four innings and went into the bottom of the fourth tied with the Lady Demons, 5-5. However, Northwestern State scored eight runs over the final two innings to earn a 13-5 mercy-rule victory. Lindsey Rizzo led SLU with three hits, while Anna Rodenberg and Cameron Goodman had two hits apiece.
 
With the two losses, Southeastern's chances to earn a first round bye in next week's Southland Conference Tournament, scheduled for Tuesday-Friday at North Oak Park on the SLU campus, have been eliminated.
 
Southeastern will look to avoid the series sweep on Saturday, when the series and regular season wraps up at noon. Live stats and video (paid subscription required), provided by the host Lady Demons, will be accessible on the softball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
Game One – Northwestern State 9, Southeastern Louisiana 4
The aces for both teams – SLU's Heather Zumo (15-6) and EC Delafield (10-4) of Northwestern State – matched zeroes until the Lady Demons broke through in the bottom of the third. Kaitlyn St. Clair, Cayla Jones and Keely DuBois each drove in runs to give NSU a 3-0 cushion.
 
Southeastern answered in the top of the fifth inning. Pinch runner Kylie Chauvin replaced Madison Watson on the base paths after a Watson single and scored when St. Clair misplayed Rodenberg's single. Rodenberg would later score on a sacrifice fly by Greely to cut the lead to 3-2.
 
NSU got a run back in the bottom of the frame on an RBI double by Jones. However, in the SLU sixth, Bodin tied it up with a two-run shot over the right field fence.
 
Northwestern State sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead for good. The Lady Demons loaded the bases with one out to chase Zumo from the game. Ellie DuBois came in and struck out St. Clair, but Jones followed with a grand slam over the right centerfield wall to break the tie.
 
NSU added another run on an error to take a commanding 9-4 lead. Delafield sat SLU down in order in the seventh to secure the win.
 
SLU – 000 022 0 – 4 5 2 (26-20, 13-9 SLC)
NSU – 003 015 x – 9 11 2 (21-19, 15-10 SLC)
Heather Zumo, Ellie DuBois (6), Alyssa Romano (6) and Madisen Blackford. EC Delafield and Alexis Perry. W – Delafield (10-4). L – Zumo (15-6). HR – SLU: Kelci Bodin; NSU: Cayla Jones. 2B – SLU: Aeriyl Mass; NSU: Cayla Jones, Makenzie Chaffin. T – 2:05. A – 200.
 
Game Two – Northwestern State 13, Southeastern Louisiana 5 (5 Innings)
SLU jumped out to the early lead in the top of the first inning. RBI singles by Bodin and Rodenberg staked the Lady Lions to an early 2-0 cushion.
 
NSU answered right back in the bottom of the first inning. Jones and Keely DuBois drove in runs to knot the score at 2-2.
 
Rizzo singled home a run in the top of the second to put SLU back on top. The Lady Lions took advantage of two NSU errors to extend their lead to 4-2 in the top of the third inning.
 
The Lady Demons took the lead in the bottom of the third. The first run scored on a wild pitch and then Laney Roos doubled home a pair of runs to put NSU up, 5-4.
 
Rizzo singled and later scored on a Watson sacrifice fly to tie the score at 5-5 in the top of the fourth. However, NSU used a bases loaded walk and a two-run error to take the lead for good in the bottom of the frame.
 
Northwestern State ended it the fifth inning. The Lady Demons scored five runs on six hits to enforce the run-rule.
 
SLU – 211 10 – 5 10 3 (26-21, 13-10 SLC)
NSU – 203 35 – 13 11 4 (22-19, 16-10 SLC)
MC Comeaux, Sophie Hannabas (3), Karlee Kraft (4), Alyssa Romano (5) and Madisen Blackford. Jensen Howell, Kenzie Seely (2) and Alexis Perry. W – Seely (1-2). L – Hannabas (2-6). 3B – NSU: Cayla Jones. 2B – NSU: Cayla Jones, Keely DuBois, Laney Roos. T – 2:15. A – 200.
 
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.