THIBODAUX, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University softball team completed a Southland Conference series sweep of Nicholls with a 10-1 run-rule victory Saturday afternoon at Swanner Field.
With the win, Southeastern improves to 29-12 overall and 7-2 in Southland action. The Lady Lions dropped Nicholls to 10-28 overall and 2-7 in league play.
Lexi Johnson hit her team-high seventh home run and led a 12-hit Lady Lion attack with three RBI Saturday. Johnson,
Madisen Blackford and
Bailey Krolczyk each had two hits apiece to lead SLU. Johnson, Blackford and
Audrey Greely all scored two runs apiece.
"It's always tough going on the road, but we were very pleased with how we performed this weekend." Southeastern head coach
Rick Fremin said. "We had consistent production throughout our lineup, which was encouraging."
KK Ladner (5-2) picked up her second win of the series. The Kiln, Mississippi native struck out four in three shutout innings of relief.
"We've been able to use our staff well to give opposing teams different looks," Fremin stated. "KK and (Heather) Zumo combined to hold Nicholls to three hits today and we played error-free defense behind them."
SLU took the lead in the top of the first inning versus Nicholls starter Brittney Turner (5-12).
Cam Goodman singled with one out, stole second, moved to third on a Colonel error and scored on an RBI groundout by
Madison Rayner to give the Lady Lions an early 1-0 cushion.
Southeastern took advantage of a couple of Colonel miscues to add to its lead in the top of the second. Blackford and Johnson each singled and scored, as two Nicholls errors fueled a three-run inning that gave SLU a 4-0 advantage.
Zumo retired the first five Nicholls batters before the Colonels got on the board in the bottom of the second. Samantha Gwiazda doubled and scored on an RBI single by Julia Kramer to cut the Lady Lion lead to 4-1.
The Lady Lions broke open the game in the top of the fifth inning, sending 11 to the plate in a six-run frame. Rayner doubled off the centerfield fence and
Maddie Watson singled to put runners at the corners with no outs. A sharp single by Blackford plated pinch runner
Sarah Diaz to chase Nicholls reliever Paige Lehman from the game.
Krolczyk greeted Taryn Westbrook with an RBI single, then Johnson cleared the bases with a three-run shot to straight away centerfield. Greely followed with a double and later scored on an RBI single by
Aeriyl Mass to give SLU a commanding 10-1 lead.
Ladner helped Southeastern enforce the mercy rule, striking out the side in a scoreless fifth to close the door on the series sweep.
Southeastern wraps up nonconference play Tuesday, traveling to Southern for a 3 p.m. contest in Baton Rouge.
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.
