Southeastern Tops Clemson, 6-2, in NCAA Tournament Debut - Southeastern Louisiana University Athletics (2024)

• Summary
• Box Score

Sam Conners / SLU Athletics

Game Recap: Softball | 5/17/2024 5:09:00 PM

SLU (46-13) advances to face Alabama-USC Upstate winner Saturday at 2 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Behind a 13-hit attack, the Southeastern Louisiana University softball team earned a 6-2 victory over Clemson in the opening game of the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Friday afternoon at Rhodes Stadium.

In the first regional contest in the program's 40-year history, SLU (46-13) took a 6-0 lead and never looked back, as the trio of Ellie DuBois (15-5), Allison Brunson and Cera Blanchard combined to hold the Tigers (34-18) to seven hits on the way to the victory.

The Lady Lions will advance to face the winner of Friday's nightcap between Alabama and USC Upstate in Game 3 Saturday at 2 p.m. The winner of Game 3 advances to Sunday's regional final with the loser facing an elimination game Saturday at 7 p.m.

Southeastern had production throughout its lineup, as Chloe Magee, Maria Detillier, Bailey Krolczyk, Lexi Johnson, Audrey Greely and Cam Goodman each had two hits. Detillier and Greely both led SLU with two RBI, while Detillier also scored a pair of runs.

"We had a great effort to start the regional against an accomplished program," Southeastern head coach Rick Fremin commented. "We finished with 13 hits, held Clemson to single-digit hits and played error-free defense, which is the type of performance we needed to be successful today."

Southeastern threatened in the top of the first inning. Consecutive singles by Magee and Detillier put a pair of runners on with one out, but reigning National Player of the Year Valerie Cagle recovered by retiring Krolczyk and Johnson to keep the Lady Lions off the board.

Clemson mounted a threat of its own in the bottom of the first inning. With a pair of runners on and one out, DuBois retired Cagle and Lindsey Garcia to keep the game deadlocked at 0-0.

The Tigers put the first two batters of the bottom of the second inning on, but DuBois again pitched out of trouble. She retired Aby Vieira, struck out Arielle Oda and forced McKenzie Clark to fly out to center to keep the game scoreless.

Southeastern took the lead in the top of the third inning. Infield singles by Goodman and Magee put a pair of runners on, then Detillier cleared the bases with a two-run single. After Detillier stole second, Krolczyk singled her home to give the Lady Lions a 3-0 cushion and chase Cagle from the contest.

SLU doubled its lead in the top of the fifth inning. A Detillier walk and Krolczyk single put a pair on, then Johnson laced an RBI single to center to score Detillier. Later in the frame, a two-run single by Greely cleared the bases and gave SLU a 6-0 advantage.

DuBois retired nine Tigers in a row before hitting Oda with one out in the fifth inning and giving way to Brunson. While Brunson allowed the Tigers to get on the board, she minimized the damage after Clemson loaded the bases with one out and kept the lead at 6-1.

Consecutive singles by Garcia and Julia Knowler to open the bottom of the sixth chased Brunson from the game. Much like when Brunson spelled DuBois, Blanchard yielded a run, but stranded a pair of Tigers to keep SLU ahead, 6-2.

Southeastern looked as if it was poised to add to its lead in the seventh inning. However, Johnson was called for leaving early on a sacrifice fly attempt by Colleen Kulivan to keep the deficit at 6-2.

Blanchard allowed a one-out single in final frame to Maddie Moore, but struck out Cagle and forced Garcia to fly out to left field to close out the victory.

2024 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional | Rhoads Stadium | May 17-19, 2024 | Double-Elimination

Friday, May 17
Game 1 | Southeastern 6, Clemson 2
Game 2 | USC Upstate (V) vs. Alabama (H) | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Saturday, May 18
Game 3 | Southeastern vs. Game 2 Winner | 2 p.m.
Game 4 | Clemson vs. Game 2 Loser | 4:30 p.m.
Game 5 | Game 4 Winner vs. Game 3 Loser | 7 p.m.

Sunday, May 19
Game 6 | Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner | TBD
Game 7 | Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser (if necessary) | TBD

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