Cowgirls, Lady Lions set for Southland Softball Championship Game showdown

McNeese logged another walk-off win, Southeastern defeated HBU in five

HAMMOND, La. – McNeese continued its flawless run through the 2022 Southland Conference Softball Tournament Thursday, May 12, with a 7-6 walk off win over No. 2 seed Southeastern at North Oak Park in Hammond, La. After falling to the Cowgirls, No. 2 Southeastern defeated No. 6 HBU 9-1 in its first elimination match of the tournament to secure its spot in the title contest on Friday.

Game Eight | No. 4 Northwestern State – 3, No. 3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – 4 (Box Score) 

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi survived Thursday’s first elimination match defeating Northwestern State, 4-3. The Lady Demons got on the board early, scoring one run in the top of the first inning after Bailie Ragsdale stole second causing an Islanders‘ throwing error to score Laney Roos and take a 1-0 lead.

The Islanders responded tying the game 1-1 after a SAC bunt from Ashleigh Sgambelluri scored Pal Egan. A&M-Corpus Christi took a 3-1 lead following a two-RBI double to right center to score Sgambelluri and Sydney Hoty.

After a scoreless second inning, Roos cut the Islanders lead to one with a solo shot over the right field wall in the top of the third. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi took the lead for good in the bottom of the third following an RBI single from Madison Garza scored Gabriella Torres.

The Lady Demons were not ready to go home and fought back in the top of the seventh inning with an aggressive offensive scheme. NSU’s first out came from a sacrifice fly ball that scored Roos to pull withing one. The Lady Demons would load the bases, but the late push was not enough for A&M-Corpus Christi who escaped elimination defeating Northwestern State 4-3 Thursday afternoon.

Game Nine No. 1 McNeese 7, No. 2 Southeastern 6 (Box Score) 

Fighting for a spot in the championship game, McNeese provided a statement victory with a 7-6 eighth-inning walk-off victory over No. 2 seed Southeastern Thursday afternoon at the Southland Softball Tournament.

Cam Goodman sparked the offense for the Lady Lions with an RBI triple down the right field line. Southeastern was not done there as they ran in five more runs off a trio of singles and a wild pitch to take an early 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

McNeese responded with an RBI double to right field from Crislyne Moreno to score Kendall Talley and put the Cowgirls on the board 6-1. The Cowgirls cut the deficit in half with a run in the third and two more in the fourth.

After two scoreless innings, the Cowgirls struck again with two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at six apiece, sending it into extra innings.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Kendall Talley got things going with a double to right field. Jill Poullard was intentionally walked putting runners on first and second. Moreno singled through the left side bringing Talley all the way home, allowing the run to score.

The Cowgirls walked it off 7-6, tying a bow on the game to advance to Friday’s championship game.

Game 10 | No. 6 HBU 5, No. 3 A&M-Corpus Christi 3 (Box Score) 

HBU advances to the semifinal of Southland Conference Tournament for the first time in program history with some late inning magic against the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders Thursday afternoon at North Oak Park.

Pal Egan got the scoring started for the Islanders with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning. Ashleigh Sgambelluri hit a double to left center field and came around to score on an errant throw from the Huskies.

Justice Palmer opened the bottom half of the sixth inning with a blast to left field to cut the Husky deficit to just 3-1. Riley Martin followed the blast with a walk before Shelby Echols reached on a bunt single and Caitlin Brockway walked to load the bases with no outs. Jasie Roberts doubled to left center field to clear the bases and give the Huskies a 4-3 lead. Sarah Venker added an insurance run after an RBI double to left center field giving HBU a 5-3 lead.

Lyndie Swanson stepped into pitch for Madison Cotton and struck out the first batter she faced with two Islanders in scoring position. After walking Southland Player of the Year Pal Egan, Swanson induced an infield fly for the second out of the inning. Sgambelluri came to the plate with the bases juiced and sent a pop up in foul territory that Brockway fully ended for to end the game.

Game 11 | No. 2 Southeastern 9, No. 6 HBU 1 (Box Score) 

After a scoreless frame and a lightening delay, the Lady Lions struck first in the bottom of the second inning scoring four runs off a two RBI double down the left field line from Audrey Greely and a two-run blast from Aeriyl Mass.

SLU put up three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning after a two-RBI single up the middle from Maddie Watson followed by an RBI single from Madisen Blackford.

HBU responded in the top of the fifth inning, scoring one run on a Sarah Venker RBI double to left center field. A two-run blast from SLU’s Greely would seal the deal in a 9-1 victory over the Huskies.

MCNEESE IN DRIVER’S SEAT AGAINST HOST SLU

The Lady Lions will now face No. 1 McNeese in the title game on Friday, May 13 at noon. With the double-elimination format of the tournament, should McNeese lose in the title game, there would be a rematch scheduled 30 minutes after the completion of the first game.