HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University softball team earned its sixth Southland Conference series of the season with an 8-4 Senior Day victory over Nicholls in the rubber game of a three-game set Saturday afternoon at North Oak Park.
 
Prior to the game, Southeastern (39-11, 14-4 SLC) honored its two seniors, KK Ladner and Madison Rayner and the Lady Lion duo were both major contributors in Saturday's win. Ladner (13-1) went the distance in the circle and struck out six on the way to winning her 12^th straight decision, while Rayner was 2-for-4 win an RBI.
 
"KK and Madison will be sorely missed after this season," Southeastern head coach Rick Fremin said. "While their contributions on the field will be hard to replace, it's their contributions off the field that will be irreplaceable. The high character and leadership they both bring has been a major asset to our program. I'm proud of KK and Madison and they both have bright futures."
 
Southeastern bounced back from a tough 8-2 loss in the series opener. After winning a tightly-contest 5-4 extra-inning affair in Friday's nightcap, SLU scored five runs in the first two innings on the way to Saturday's series-clinching victory.
 
"I was very pleased with the resiliency we showed this weekend," Fremin said. "Nicholls played very well Friday and we had to bounce back to win game two. Our offense set the tone for us early today and then came up big with some insurance runs in the final inning.
 
"I talked to KK last night and she said she wanted to go the distance today," Fremin continued. "She had a bit of a rough start, but she showed her resiliency by putting up zeroes in the final four innings. We have a lot of faith in KK when she's in the circle."
 
Maria Detillier led Southeastern at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance, finishing with two doubles, a triple, two runs scored and an RBI. Rayner and Colleen Kulivan added two hits apiece.
 
Maddie Watson led Southeastern with two RBI, while Cam Goodman, Bailey Krolczyk and Kulivan each also drove in runs. SLU finished with 12 hits off Nicholls pitchers Averi Paden, Molly Yoo (10-10) and Audrey McNeill.
 
Nicholls took the early lead in the top of the first inning. Claire Sisco drew a walk, moved to third on a single by Erin Krause and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alexa Poche' to give the Colonels a 1-0 lead.
 
Southeastern answered right back in the bottom of the first inning. An RBI double by Krolczyk tied the score, then Maddie Watson gave SLU a 3-1 cushion with a two-run single.
 
It was the Colonels turn to respond in the top of the second inning. Melise Gossen led off the frame with a double and scored one out later on an RBI triple by MaKynli Miller. Miller later scored on an RBI single by Lilianna Robledo to tie the score.
 
The Lady Lions took the lead for good in the bottom of the second inning. Kulivan reached on a bunt single, stole second and scored on an RBI double by Detillier. Later in the frame, a Nicholls error allowed Detillier to come home and gave Southeastern a 5-3 advantage.
 
Nicholls got an unearned run back in the top of the third inning, but would get no closer. The Colonels loaded the bases against Ladner in the top of the fifth inning with two outs, but Ladner struck out pinch hitter Adie Brake to maintain the Lady Lions' one-run lead.
 
SLU dampened Nicholls' comeback hopes in the bottom of the sixth inning. Audrey Greely led off the inning with a bunt single and scored one out later on an RBI single by Kulivan. Goodman lined an RBI triple into the right centerfield gap to plate Kulivan and would score on an infield single by Rayner to give Southeastern an 8-4 advantage.
 
Ladner made it stand up, retiring the Colonels in order to close out the victory.
 
Southeastern will close out its home schedule this week, welcoming McNeese for a three-game series and a matchup of the top two teams in the Southland Conference standings. The series opens with a 4 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday and concludes Wednesday at 2 p.m.
 
The series will be televised on ESPN+ and live stats can be accessed at www.LionSports.net/sidearmstats/softball.
 
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.