Southeastern Louisiana Earns 5-0 Win Over McNeese State
Southland Conference
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FRISCO, Texas – Fourth-seeded Southeastern Louisiana upset second-seeded McNeese State 5-0 Thursday afternoon in a back draw first-round game of the Southland Conference Softball Tournament in Natchitoches, La. The Lady Lions advance to the second round of the back draw with the win and will play later tonight.
Southeastern Louisiana took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after four consecutive walks by McNeese State’s third-team all-conference pitcher Emily Vincent, bringing in Lady Lions’ junior outfielder Katie Lacour.
McNeese State made a change in the circle to start the second as Vincent was moved to first base and freshman right-hander Jolie Trahan was brought in. However, the Lady Lions increased their lead to 2-0 in the inning after all-conference selection freshman shortstop Sydney Booker singled down the third-base line for the RBI, bringing home freshman catcher Carlie Whittington.
Southeastern Louisiana recorded two more runs in the top of the fourth, the first coming off on an Amber Sather single down the left field line that allowed freshman all-conference selection Kinsey Nichols to score. All-conference senior third baseman Megan Moore then singled to left field for Booker to make it to home plate for the run.
With the two runs scored by the Lady Lions in the fourth, McNeese made another pitching change, sending junior right-hander Jamie Allred into the circle for Trahan.
A solo home run over the right field wall by all-conference shortstop Booker in the top of the sixth gave the Lady Lions a 5-0 lead.
Lightning and rain moved into the area delaying the game for over an hour in the middle of the sixth before the tarp was pulled off and the contest resumed. After the delay in the final one and a half innings, only one hit was recorded by the Lady Lions
Southeastern Louisiana freshman Booker finished the game with two runs, three hits and two RBI to lead the Lady Lions.
Spencer Adkinson claimed the win for the Lady Lions, improving her season record to 4-5. The senior tossed a complete game and limited the McNeese State to only one hit the entire game.
Vincent took the loss for the Cowgirls, falling to 14-6 on the year.
No. 4 Southeastern Louisiana will now take on tournament host and top-seed Northwestern State (34-17, 22-3 Southland) in the second game of the back draw later tonight in Natchitoches. The game will be a matchup of last weekend’s regular-season series where the Lady Demons claimed two out of the three games in Hammond.
McNeese State was eliminated from the conference tournament after finishing second in the league, ending its season with a 36-20 overall record.
The Southland title game is slated for a 2 p.m. start Friday with a possibility of second game for the tournament championship. The 11th game would be played in the event an undefeated team lost in the title game forcing a second game for the tournament championship, upholding the double elimination format. Game 11 start time is to be determined.
The winner of the Southland softball tournament receives the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
For more information on the tournament, including a link to
live stats, please visit
Southland.org. For updates and the most current information throughout the tournament please follow the Southland Conference on twitter at SouthlandSports and use the hashtag “SLCSoftball”.
The first nine games of the 2015 Southland Softball Tournament are being streamed live for free on the Southland Conference Digital Network, including
Southland.org/watch and the league’s mobile and tablet apps. The championship round will be an exclusive presentation of ESPN3, available via
WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app. Chris Mycoskie, Assistant Commissioner of Television and Electronic Media for the Southland Conference, will handle play-by play for all games. Three-time Southland softball coach of the year and National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame member Yvette Girouard will join him for the championship as the color analyst.
Quotes
Southeastern Louisiana Head Coach Pete Langlois
On Spencer Adkinson’s performance…
“We’re extremely proud of Spencer’s effort today. To hold one of the best hitting teams in the Southland to one hit is a huge feat. She’s been lights out for us in the last month of the season. It didn’t hurt that unlike yesterday, we made every play behind her. And another difference is that Sydney Booker, Amber Sather and Megan Moore did their job and hit the runs in today.”
Southeastern Louisiana Pitcher Spencer Adkinson
On her pitching in the game…
“The last couple of times I’ve gone out there, I’ve had tunnel vision. I’m also fortunate to have a great team behind me that made every play today.”
McNeese State Head Coach Joanna Hardin
On thoughts about the season
“Obviously we are disappointed at how the week ended for us. The tournament ending doesn’t change how proud I am of this team. They fought and competed all week as well as all season. We faced a lot of adversity and never gave up or backed down. I love these girls and this coaching staff, it’s tough to see the season end this way but I’m proud of them.”