HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University softball team split a Southland Conference doubleheader at Nicholls Friday evening at Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park.
In the opener, Southeastern ace
Cera Blanchard (16-2) scattered five hits and didn't allow an earned run in a complete-game effort in SLU's 3-1 victory.
Colleen Kulivan was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate for Lady Lions, while
Maddie Watson,
Ka'Lyn Watson and
Audrey Greely all drove in runs.
Nicholls scored three unearned runs in the nightcap on the way to a 4-3 victory. Greely and
Maria Detillier each had two hits in the loss for SLU, as Greely and
Lexi Johnson notched RBI.
The series between the Lady Lions (37-9, 14-3 SLC) and the host Colonels (24-21, 11-6 SLC) wraps up Saturday with a noon contest.
Game One – Southeastern 3, Nicholls 1
Blanchard and Nicholls starter Molly Yoo (6-7) matched zeroes until the Colonels struck first in the bottom of the third inning. A single and a Lady Lion error allowed Claire Sisco to advance to second, then Reagan Heflin singled home Sisco for an unearned run and a 1-0 lead.
Southeastern answered back in the top of the fourth inning.
Bailey Krolczyk and
Maddie Watson opened the frame with back-to-back doubles to knot the score. One out later, Greely singled home pinch runner
Brilee Broussard to give SLU a 2-1 advantage.
Nicholls mounted a threat in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the first two runners of the frame reached. Blanchard deftly pitched out of the jam, retiring the next three Colonels to maintain SLU's one-run cushion.
Southeastern added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Kulivan led off the frame with a double, then scored one out later on a sacrifice fly by
Ka'Lyn Watson to give SLU a 3-1 lead.
Blanchard walked the first Colonel in the seventh, but forced Sydnee Shelton to line into a double play, then struck out Samantha Gwiazda to close out her ninth victory in Southland Conference play.
Game Two – Nicholls 4, Southeastern 3
Southeastern touched up Nicholls ace Audrey McNeill in the top of the second inning. After Johnson worked a two-out walk, Greely laced an RBI double into the right centerfield gap to give SLU a 1-0 lead.
A Johnson walk, followed by singles by Greely and Kulivan loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth for SLU. However, McNeill recovered to strike out
Sadie Hewitt and then Gabby Higbee ran down a deep fly ball off the bat of
Ka'Lyn Watson to keep the Southeastern lead at 1-0.
Nicholls plated a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning off SLU starter
Ellie DuBois (12-4) to take the lead. A bunt single by Higbee scored a pair of Colonels and put Southeastern behind, 2-1.
Southeastern answered in the top of the fifth inning.
Chloe Magee singled to lead off the inning, then pulled off a perfect double steal with Detillier to tie the score. Later in the frame, Johnson hit a double that one-hopped the right field fence to plate Detillier and put SLU back on top, 3-2.
Nicholls answered right back in the bottom of the fifth. Erin Krause singled home the tying run to knot the score at 3-3. Krause was the hero again in the seventh, as Sisco reached on a one-out error, then scored one out later on an RBI single by Krause to allow the Colonels to earn the split.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @LionUpSoftball on X and Instagram, like /LionUpAthletics on Facebook.
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.
TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit
www.LionSports.net/tickets. Southeastern offers mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit
www.LionSports.net/clear.
