HAMMOND — No. 2 Southeastern has represented one half of the SLC Softball Championship game the past two seasons. Thursday the Lions made it three straight appearances, punching their ticket into that contest with a win over No. 4 UIW.
The Lions await one of No. 1 McNeese, No. 3 Nicholls or the Cardinals in the championship where they will have two chances to secure a bid to the 2024 NCAA Softball Championship.
Ellie DuBois commanded the game in circle for Southeastern, allowing three hits and one run in five innings of work. Cera Blanchard closed the final two innings with only one hit and two strikeouts.
Bailey Krolczyk went two-of-two with two RBI and Maria Detellier finished two-of-two with one RBI.
Maddison Guillen ended one-of-three at the plate with the Cardinals’ lone RBI. SLC Player of the Year Victoria Altamirano also posted a one-of-three line.
Krolczyk drove in the Lions’ first run in the bottom of the first off an RBI single and the two seed held control early.
DuBois kept the UIW bats quiet through the first go-around of the lineup, leading up to a dominant third inning from the Lions.
Detillier drilled an RBI triple down the right field line before Krolczyk tallied her second RBI single to bring her home. A Lexi Johnson double made the score 5-0 amid a major momentum shift in favor of Southeastern.
The outpour forced out UIW pitcher Larissa Jacquez. The Lions did all their third-inning damage with two outs.
SLU’s starter retired her first 10 batters but UIW chipped into the lead in the top of the fourth. Altamirano broke the ice with a double and would score after Maddison Guillen blooped a single into left. But Dubois and the Lions held strong to finish the inning.
Maddie Watson brought in the final run of the game in the fifth on an RBI single, keeping the Cardinals at distance.
Southeastern brought in Cera Blanchard to finish the game and she held UIW to limited threats on the base paths.
UIW awaits the winner of Thursday afternoon’s contest between No. 1 McNeese and No. 3 Nicholls.