TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Southeastern Louisiana University softball team split a pair of nonconference contests on the opening day of the Easton Bama Bash Friday at Rhoads Stadium.
Southeastern (10-1) extend its school record winning streak to open the season to start the day's action, besting Indiana State (3-3) in a pitcher's duel, 1-0. In the nightcap, No. 7 Alabama (9-2) used a big fourth inning to hand the Lady Lions a 6-2 defeat.
Cera Blanchard (5-0) tossed a complete-game, two-hit shutout in the win over Indiana State. The Lady Lions got all the offense they would need in the win in the top of the first inning.
Cam Goodman drew a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI groundout by
Lexi Johnson to score the game's only run.
Madison Rayner and
Audrey Greely each had doubles in the victory, while
Maddie Watson and
Bailey Krolczyk also had hits off Sycamore pitcher Cassi Newbanks (0-3).
In the nightcap,
KK Ladner (1-1) threw three shutout innings in a scoreless game before the floodgates opened in the bottom of the fourth inning. Two errors to start the inning led to six unearned runs.
The hole was too much for Southeastern to overcome versus Alabama ace Montana Fouts (5-1).
Maria Detillier drilled a two-run home run over the centerfield fence to avoid the shutout, while Goodman collected SLU's other hit.
Ladner was one of five SLU pitchers, along with
Chyanne Ellett,
Alyssa Romano,
Ellie DuBois and
Leah Marshall, that combined to hold the seventh-ranked Crimson Tide to five hits in the contest.
Saturday will see Southeastern face Alabama at 1:30 p.m. and Kennesaw State at 4 p.m. The game versus Alabama will be televised on SEC Network+ and live stats for both games, provided by the host Crimson Tide, will be accessible via the softball schedule page at
www.LionSports.net.
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.
