CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana University softball team dropped a 7-6 decision to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the rubber game of its Southland Conference series Saturday afternoon at Chapman Field.
The Lady Lions fell to 34-14 overall and 11-4 in Southland Conference play with Saturday's loss. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi enters the final week of the regular season with a 21-24 mark and a 9-6 record in conference action.
KK Ladner (7-3) took the tough loss in the circle for Southeastern, despite not allowing a hit in 2.2 innings of relief.
Lexi Johnson led SLU at the plate with a pair of RBI.
AMCC took the lead in the bottom of the second versus Lady Lion starter
Heather Zumo. Ashleigh Sgambelluri led off the frame with a single and scored one out later on a RBI single by Gabriella Torres to put the Islanders up, 1-0.
Southeastern answered in the top of the third.
Audrey Greely reached on an error and scored an unearned run after
Aeriyl Mass flared a double just inside the left field line to knot the score at 1-1.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi retook the lead in the bottom of the frame. Pal Egan tripled with one out, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Sgambelluri to put the Islanders back on top.
SLU took its first lead in the top of the fourth inning.
Madisen Blackford and
Blaire Bizette opened the inning with consecutive singles. Blackford came home on an RBI single by Greely and Bizette scored the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout by
Sadie Hewitt.
The Lady Lions' 3-2 advantage would be short-lived. Egan hit a grand slam to chase Zumo from the contest in the bottom of the fourth inning and give the Islanders a 6-3 cushion.
The momentum would swing right back in Southeastern's favor in the top of the fifth inning thanks to a two-out rally.
Maddie Watson drew a walk, moved to second after Blackford was hit by a pitch and scored on an RBI single by
Bailey Krolczyk. Johnson then cleared the bases and knotted the score with a two-run double.
The score would remain deadlocked until the Islanders walked it off in the bottom of the seventh. Sydney Hoyt drew a leadoff walk, moved to third thanks to a sac bunt and a SLU error. Madison Garza then hit a dribbler in front of the circle, but reliever
Mary-Cathryn (MC) Comeaux's home was not in time to keep Hoyt from scoring the game-winning run.
Southeastern will close out the regular season at home, hosting Northwestern State for a three-game SLC set at North Oak Park with the Cypress Trophy on the line.
The series opens with a 4 p.m. doubleheader Friday and concludes Saturday at 12 p.m. Prior to Saturday's regular season finale, the senior class of Mass, Zumo and Blackford will be recognized for Senior Day. Friday's doubleheader will be televised on ESPN+.
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.
