LAKE CHARLES, La. – Brilee Ford's game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh inning completed a rally from a four-run deficit and gave the Southeastern Louisiana University softball team a dramatic 6-5 victory over McNeese in the deciding game of the Southland Conference Tournament Championship Series Saturday night at Cowgirl Diamond.
Down 4-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth, SLU (48-14) scored three runs in each of the final two innings to rally past the top-seeded Cowgirls (41-20). The program's single-season school record 48
th win of the season clinched Southeastern's second straight SLC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance.
For the second straight year, the Lady Lions won the tournament title in walk-off fashion. Southeastern will find out its NCAA Tournament destination Sunday at 6 p.m. when the selection show airs on ESPN2.
"That was one of the wildest finishes I've ever been part of," Southeastern head coach
Rick Fremin said. "McNeese has a great tradition and to be able to clinch our second straight NCAA Tournament appearance here is priceless. This is one of the most fun teams I've had the privilege to coach. We're thankful to our administration for giving Southeastern Louisiana University Softball the ability to be successful on a national level. We're excited to be able to compete in the NCAA Regional no matter where they send us."
Southeastern went into the bottom of the seventh trailing, 5-3.
Kailey Dixon started the rally with a one-out single. After
Shenita Tucker grounded out, SLU was down to its last out.
Shelby Morris flared a base hit into left field, scoring Dixon. Morris stretched the base hit to a double, but was originally called out, which would have ended the game. After video review, the call was overturned and SLU remained alive.
Chloe Magee then singled home Morris to tie the score, advancing to second on the throw home. McNeese reliever Ryann Schexnayder (7-2) then hit
Cydnee Schneider and walked
Maria Detillier to load the bases.
That brought up Ford, the Albany, Louisiana native who transferred from McNeese prior to the 2025 season. Ford laced a 2-2 pitch for the right side to plate Magee with the winning run and etch her name in Southeastern history.
Southeastern used five pitchers in the game.
Britney Lewinski (9-5) earned the win, allowing one hit over the final 1.1 innings.
McNeese jumped on top in the top of the first inning against SLU freshman starter
Celia Lamkin. An RBI single by Samantha Mundine staked the Cowgirls to a 1-0 lead.
The Cowgirls added to their advantage in the top of the second. McNeese loaded the bases with one out and Nyjah Fontenot plated a run on a fielder's choice to give the Cowgirls a 2-0 cushion.
McNeese added to its tally in the top of the sixth inning. A solo home run by Rylee Bouvier opened the frame. The Cowgirls added an unearned run on an RBI groundout by Nyjah Fontenot to take a 4-0 lead.
Southeastern mounted a rally in the bottom of the sixth inning. Schneider singled home the first two runs of the frame, then pinch runner
Brilee Broussard raced home on a wild pitch. Ford appeared to have slid under the tag for the tying run on a
Maddie Watson ground out, but was called out and the play was upheld on replay review to keep SLU down, 4-3.
McNeese added to its tally in the top of the seventh. Mundine singled to lead off the inning and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Allen to give SLU a 5-3 lead. But Southeastern had one more rally in its bag in the dramatic bottom of the seventh inning.
Magee was named SLC Tournament MVP and was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Detillier, Schneider, Ford,
Macie LaRue and
Lainee Bailey.
2025 Southland Conference Softball Championship Series
Game 1 – McNeese 3, Southeastern 2
Game 2 – Southeastern 2, McNeese 0
Game 3 – Southeastern 6, McNeese 5
2025 Southland Conference All-Tournament Team
Chloe Magee, Southeastern (MVP)
Macie LaRue, Southeastern
Lainee Bailey, Southeastern
Maria Detillier, Southeastern
Cydnee Schneider, Southeastern
Brilee Ford, Southeastern
Maddie Taylor, McNeese
Reese Reyna, McNeese
Rylie Bouvier, McNeese
Nyjah Fontenot, McNeese
Victoria Altamirano, UIW
Molly VandenBout, Nicholls
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @LionUpSoftball on X and Instagram, like /SLUathletics 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
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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.
