LAKE CHARLES, La. — No. 2 McNeese held off No. 3 Nicholls, while No. 5 Lamar duplicated its stunning upset run over No. 1 Southeastern, marking a dramatic end to the Bracket Round of the Southland Softball Championship. The Cardinals and Cowgirls will meet in Lake Charles for the championship series beginning Thursday, May 7.

Lake Charles Bracket – Game 6

(2) McNeese 7, (3) Nicholls 6

The Cowgirls and Colonels were even early, deadlocked at 1-1 heading into the fifth. McNeese broke through in the bottom of the inning, plating a run after a Kassidy Chance double before Rylee Cloud delivered a two-run single to push the lead to 4-1.

Nicholls responded quickly, cutting into the deficit when Erin Krause launched a two-run home run to right. McNeese answered again, extending the lead to 5-3 on an Onna Pruitt RBI single. Chance struck once more with another RBI double, driving in two to make it 7-3.

As they had all tournament, the Colonels fought back late. In the seventh, Madison Moak opened the rally with an RBI single, and Krause followed with a two-run double to center to trim the margin to 7-6. However, Nicholls was unable to complete the comeback, grounding out to end the game as McNeese advanced.

Hammond Bracket – Game 6

(5) Lamar 2, (1) Southeastern 1 (8 innings)

Sunday’s Game 6 featured a defensive battle, with both teams limiting scoring opportunities throughout. Unlike Saturday’s matchup, Lamar struck first, as Cimara-lei Wessling delivered an RBI single in the fourth to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

Reagan Thompson kept Southeastern in check until the seventh, when Ka’Lyn Watson tied the game with an RBI triple, scoring Veronica Puckett from first. Watson was ruled out at third on the play, leaving the score tied at 1-1.

In the eighth, Lamar capitalized. Southland Freshman of the Year Isabella Flores lined a single to center, bringing home the game-winning run and securing the Cardinals’ spot in the championship series.