HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University softball team set a new single-season school record for victories with a Southland Conference doubleheader sweep of league leader McNeese Tuesday evening at North Oak Park.
SLU (41-11, 16-4 SLC) topped the previous school mark of 40 wins set by the 2022 squad, clinching its seventh league series of the season. McNeese (34-14, 14-3 SLC) saw its eight-game winning streak snapped by the Lady Lions.
Cera Blanchard (15-6) struck out five and held the Cowgirls to two hits in 5.1 innings of shutout relief in a 4-1 victory in the opener. Bailey Krolczyk drove in a pair of runs for SLU, while Lexi Johnson led the Lady Lions with two hits.
Ka’Lyn Watson broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning of a 4-3 Southeastern triumph in the nightcap. Maddie Watson also hit a home run for the Lady Lions, while KK Ladner (14-1) allowed two hits in 3.1 innings of relief to win her 13th consecutive decision.
Southeastern will look to close out the series sweep Wednesday at 2 p.m. The Lady Lions’ home finale will be televised on ESPN+ and live stats will be available at www.LionSports.net.
Game One – Southeastern 4, McNeese 1
SLU scored all the runs it would need in the bottom of the first inning versus McNeese starter Ashley Vallejo (13-8). Cam Goodman drew a leadoff walk and Maria Detillier reached on an error to put a pair of runners on. One out later, Krolczyk ripped a two-run single up the middle to score both runners. Later in the inning, Ka’Lyn Watson drew a bases loaded hit by pitch to force in another run to stake SLU to a 3-0 lead.
An RBI single by Rylie Bouvier cut the Lady Lion advantage to 3-1 in the top of the second, but would get no closer. Blanchard was dominant throughout on the way to her team-high 15th win of the season.
McKayla Ferguson scored an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Blanchard worked around a two-out walk in the seventh, retiring Mariana Torres to close out the
MCN – 010 000 0 – 1 6 2 (34-13, 14-2 SLC)
SLU – 300 001 x – 4 4 2 (40-11, 15-4 SLC)
Ashley Vallejo and Emily Phillips. Ellie DuBois, Cera Blanchard (2) and Bailey Krolczyk. W – Blanchard (15-6). L – Vallejo (13-8). T – 1:45. A – 262.
Game Two – Southeastern 4, McNeese 3
Southeastern took the lead versus Cowgirl ace Whitney Tate (13-4) in the bottom of the second inning. Maddie Watson lined a solo home run over the left field fence to put SLU ahead, 2-1.
Lady Lion starter Mary-Cathryn (MC) Comeaux stranded four Cowgirls in the first three innings before the visitors finally broke through in the top of the fourth inning. An RBI bunt single by Brooke Otto and an RBI groundout by Erin Ardoin gave McNeese its first lead of the day. Ladner came in and retired Reese Reyna to keep the deficit at 2-1.
Southeastern knotted the score in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ka’Lyn Watson doubled off the right field fence to lead off the inning, moved to third on a Colleen Kulivan single, then beat the throw home on an RBI groundout by Maria Detillier to tie the score.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the potential go-ahead run got aboard after Johnson drew a leadoff walk. Two outs later, Ka’Lyn Watson hit her second home run of the season deep into the night, bombing an 0-2 pitch well over the left field fence to put SLU up, 4-2.
In the top of the seventh, McNeese would load the bases with two outs versus Ladner. A fielding error allowed the Cowgirls to pull within one, but Ladner bounced back to retire Alayis Seneca to complete the doubleheader sweep.
MCN – 000 200 1 – 3 6 0 (34-14, 14-3 SLC)
SLU – 010 012 x – 4 6 2 (41-11, 16-4 SLC)
Whitney Tate, Shaelyn Sanders (6) and Emily Phillips. MC Comeaux, KK Ladner (4) and Bailey Krolczyk. W – Ladner (14-1). L – Tate (13-4). HR – SLU: Maddie Watson (4), SLU: Ka’Lyn Watson (2). 2B – MCN: Emily Phillips (6), Chloe Gomez (8); SLU: Maria Detillier (9), Lexi Johnson (9), Ka’Lyn Watson (6). T – 2:12. A – 262.
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.
