HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions collected two wins over the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team by scores of 3-0 and 8-0, respectively, on Friday evening at North Oak Park, with game two going just six innings.
 
For A&M-Commerce, Kaydee Bennett (Caddo Mills) went 4 for 6 in the two games combined and reached base five times.
 
"We gave ourselves chances to score in both games, but lacked the big hit to bring them in," said coach Brittany Miller. "Looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow."
 
Game 1: SOUTHEASTERN 3, A&M-COMMERCE 0
A&M-Commerce had a runner at third with less than two outs twice in the first three innings, but Southeastern escaped without any damage each time. The Lions left the bases loaded in the first.
 
Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) took the mound for A&M-Commerce and recorded four strikeouts through two innings, stranding three runners.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Lady Lions' Cam Goodman led off the inning with a base hit. After a bunt to move her to second and a strikeout, Goodman stole third. She scored on a double down the left field line by Lexi Johnson, who scored on a one-run double to center by Bailey Krolczyk. The Lady Lions popped up to second to end the inning.
 
Audrey Greely led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk. She was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a fly out, and scored on a dropped pop up by A&M-Commerce with two outs. Her run was unearned. Southeastern had runners at second and third with two outs, but a foul out ended the inning.
 
A&M-Commerce had runners at second and third with one out in the fifth and loaded the bases with two outs, but a grounder to shortstop ended the inning. The Lions left seven runners on base in the game and were shutout for their fourth consecutive game.
 
Bennett had two of the three hits for the Lions and reached base once on a walk as well. Tatum Wright (Frisco – Centennial) came in as a pinch hitter and had the other hit for A&M-Commerce. In the circle, Sanchez tossed a complete game with five strikeouts. She allowed seven hits, two earned runs, and two walks.
 
For Southeastern, Johnson had two hits. Cera Blanchard got the win in the circle, going five innings and recording two strikeouts on three hits and three walks in her start. Ellie DuBois pitched two shutout innings for the save. She had a walk and strikeout.
 
Game 2: SOUTHEASTERN 8, A&M-COMMERCE 0 (Six Innings)
Johnson led off the bottom of the second with a base hit. She was pinch run for by Ka'Lyn Watson, who scored on an RBI double to center by Krolczyk. SLU had a runner at second with one out, but A&M-Commerce escaped with a line out to second and a ground out to third.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Madison Rayner singled up the middle to lead off the inning. She was pinch run for by Britt Bourgoyne. Krolczyk hit a fielder's choice that retired Bourgoyne at second, but Krolczyk reached first, and she scored on a single down the right field line by Maddie Watson. Southeastern had the bases loaded with two outs, but A&M-Commerce got out of it with a strikeout.
 
Goodman hit an infield single to start the fifth. After a foul out, Goodman stole second and third. Bourgoyne drew a walk and on the play, Goodman stole home, which allowed Bourgoyne to get to second. Johnson hit a triple to right center that plated Bourgoyne and Johnson scored thanks to a fielding error by the Lions, which allowed Krolcyzk to reach second.
 
Southeastern scored four runs on three hits and one error in the fifth.
 
In the sixth, Maddie Leal drew a lead-off walk. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI triple to center by Goodman, who represented the run-rule clinching run for Southeastern at third with one out.
 
SLU loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. A&M-Commerce forced a groundball that it was able to tag out Goodman at home, but a throwing error allowed Maria Detillier to score the run-rule clinching run.  
 
Bennett had two of the three hits for A&M-Commerce in the second game as well. Diamond Sefe (Carson, Calif.) had the other hit for the Lions. Both Goodman and Johnson had multi-hit games for Southeastern.
 
McKenna Meadors (The Woodlands Christian Academy) went 4.1 innings for A&M-Commerce and took the loss in the circle. She was charged with five earned runs on seven hits, three walks, while striking out one. MC Comeaux collected the complete game win. She allowed three hits, one walk, and struck out four.
 
A&M-Commerce has now been shutout for five straight games and left 11 runners on Friday. The Lions drop to 5-26 on the season overall and 1-7 in Southland play. Southeastern Is 29-8 overall and 6-2 in conference play.
 
UP NEXT
Both Lion teams meet again on Saturday to conclude the series with a single game, starting at noon.