HAMMOND — For the second year in a row, the Southland Softball Championship ended on a walk-off homerun. This time, the Southeastern Lions crowded round home plate in celebration.
No. 2 Southeastern stared at a 7-5 deficit when Lexi Johnson stepped into the box with two runners on base.
She eyed a 1-2 pitch, made perfect contact on her swing and rocketed a three-run home run over the left field wall, delivering the Lions to an 8-7 win over No. 4 UIW and their first ever SLC Championship.
The win sends Southeastern to its first NCAA Softball Tournament in program history.
Conference Hitter of the Year Ka’Lyn Watson went two-of-four with two RBI while Bailey Krolczyk posted the same line and broke her own program record for extra base hits in a season. Colleen Kulivan finished two-of-three.
Maddison Guillen and Dariane Cram both went two-of-three for UIW. Victoria Altamirano, Ayla Gonzales and Avalon Sanchez all recorded a hit.
Both teams came away empty after one inning and with two outs on the board in the bottom of the second, a similar outcome seemed imminent.
But Maddie Watson fired a deep shot to center, causing a tectonic shift in momentum. Audrey Greely followed with a triple and stole home on the ensuing at bat.
K. Watson, the Hitter of the Year, barreled an RBI single into right, bringing in two more runs. The Lions suddenly held a 4-0 lead and forced out Portillo before she could finish the second.
Greely would score on another Kulivan at bat in the bottom of the fourth, dashing home after Kulivan doubled down the left field line, giving Southeastern a 5-0.
Cera Blanchard continued her exceptional play in the circle at the start, blanking UIW through the first four innings. She did not allow a hit until the fifth inning.
Cram got the Cardinals on the board with an RBI single in that inning to make the deficit a 5-1 difference.
However, a second wave of offense arrived in the sixth at the top of the UIW lineup and Southeastern’s grip on the Cardinals slipped.
Gonzales and Altamirano reached first and second to start the inning. Sanchez scored Gonzales on an RBI double before Maddison Guillen doubled to bring in Altamirano and Jillian Gutierrez.
Jaisy Caceres dribbled an RBI single that Guillen came home on and UIW tied the game at 5-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
The Lions landed two baserunners in the inning but could not score, leaving the score at a standstill when the seventh started.
UIW loaded the bases with one out as the Player of the Year stepped to the dish. She barreled a double off the center field wall, bringing in two runs and giving the Cardinals a 7-5 lead.
A hushed crowd at North Oak Park popped with scattered rumblings when Southeastern’s Maria Detillier and Krolczyk reached base with one out in the bottom of the seventh.
Johnson, the tournament MVP, then delivered her game-winning blast to close out the championship victory.
The Lions await their destination for the NCAA Softball Championship on the official selection show Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPN 2.
All-Tournament Team
Lexi Johnson, 1B, Southeastern (MVP)
Bailey Krolczyk, C, Southeastern
Cera Blanchard, RHP, Southeastern
Maddie Watson, 2B, Southeastern
Ka'Lyn Watson, OF, Southeastern
Maddison Guillen, 3B, UIW
Avalon Sanchez, DP, UIW
Victoria Altamirano, 1B, UIW
Samantha Portillo, RHP, UIW
Alexis Dibbley, OF, McNeese
Shaelyn Sanders, RHP, McNeese
Claire Sisco, 2B, Nicholls