Southland Softball Tournament: McNeese-Southeastern semifinal matchup set after Wednesday action

Huskies, Islanders’ survive elimination Wednesday evening

HAMMOND, La. – With seven games finalized at the 2022 Southland Conference Softball Tournament, top-seeded McNeese and No. 2 seed Southeastern have claimed spots in the first semifinal matchup of the tournament Friday at North Oak Park in Hammond, La.

The Cowgirls made their tournament debut with a 6-5 walk-off win in eight over No. 4 seed Northwestern State. The Lady Lions pushed past the Huskies 9-5  on day two of the tournament. HBU and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi survived elimination.

Game Four | No. 1 McNeese 6, No. 4 Northwestern State 5 (Box Score) 

Crislyne Moreno walked it off with an RBI single to deep right field in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift McNeese past Northwestern State, 6-5.

There were five lead changes throughout the game. The Cowgirls fought through an early 1-0 deficit in the first inning before tying the game at one apiece. MSU took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third after an RBI bunt from Newcomer of the Year Kendall Talley scored Josie Willingham.

The Lady Demons punched back with a 3-2 lead in the fifth, but a two-out single to left field by Cowgirls’ pinch hitter Toni Perrin tied the game at three. Northwestern State responded with a solo home run from Makenzie Chaffin in the top of the seventh to take the lead once again at 4-3.

McNeese answered with an RBI single to left field from Perrin to score Jil Poullard and tie the game 7-7. The Lady Demons stranded the Cowgirls with the bases loaded to send the game into extra innings.  Three consecutive bunt singles by Alayis Seneca, Kendall Talley, and Poullard coupled by another Lady Demon error allowed Willingham to score and tie the game five all. Moreno sent the first pitch she saw into right field that scored Seneca for the game winning run.

The Cowgirls will face No. 2 Southeastern at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the first semifinal matchup of the Southland Tournament.

Game Five | No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana 8, No. 6 HBU 5 (Box Score) 

HBU jumped on the scoreboard first with a sac fly by Jasie Roberts in the top of the first inning. A single and two walks loaded the bases for Southeastern in the bottom of the first. SLU’s Maddie Watson hit a sac fly to even the score at one. The Lady Lions recorded back-to-back singles to take the lead 3-1.

After a scoreless second frame, the Huskies loaded the bases in the top of the third, Sarah Venker smoked a bases clearing double to take the lead 4-3. SLU would tie the game once again in the bottom of the third after Husky throwing error would score Cam Goodman.

Brockway added a fifth run for HBU in the top of the fourth inning an RBI double to left field would score Shelby Echols.

Southeastern fought back in the bottom of the fifth, when the first two hitters of the inning singled before Lexi Johnson’s double to right field would even the game at five. SLU took a 7-5 lead off an RBI fielder’s choice and some aggressive base running in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Lady Lions added insurance in the bottom of the sixth on a Bailey Krolczyk RBI double to extend the lead 8-5. Heather Zumo picked up the win after three innings of work, allowing one hit, one walk while striking out five.

Southeastern aims to keep its postseason hopes alive and will do so against No. 1 seed McNeese Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

Game Six | No. 3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 8, No. 7 Nicholls 2 (Box Score) 

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi avoided elimination with an 8-2 win over Nicholls Wednesday evening at North Oak Park. After a scoreless first inning, the islanders’ bats came alive in the second, resulting in four runs on as many hits to take the 4-0 advantage.

After a pair of singles, Nicholls’ Bree Augillard records her first two RBIs of the season with a two-RBI double to left center field to cut the lead to 4-2.

Islanders added insurance runs in the top of the fourth and fifth innings thanks to a solo shot from Gabriella Torres and a two-run blast from Southland Player and Hitter of the Year Pal Egan. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will face Northwestern State at 11 a.m. to start off day three of action.

Game Six | No. 6 HBU 8, No. 5 UIW 4 (Box Score) 

HBU started scoring early in the bottom of the first inning after Caitlin Brockway doubled to deep right field before advancing to third and scoring on two passed balls.

UIW responded in the top of the second inning after Maddi Boldt singled to center field and advancing to second on a passed ball. Ryleigh Mata delivered an RBI single that score Boldt, tying the game 1-1.

HBU regained the lead in the bottom of the second inning after Justin Palmer drove in Baylee Chandler all the way from first. Palmer advanced to third on a groundout before on a passed ball.

The Huskies added an insurance run in the bottom of the third thanks to Avery Drake who drove in a run on an infield single to extend the HBU lead 4-1.

UIW responded with two runs in the top of the fourth inning to cut the Husky lead to just one. HBU took the lead once again in the bottom half of the innings after a bases loaded walk scored a run and Sarah Venker doubled off the left field wall, extending the Husky lead 7-3.

After a scoreless frame, HBU’s Baylee Chandler tacked on another run for the Huskies with an RBI double to left center in the bottom on the sixth inning. HBU eliminated UIW 8-4 Wednesday night at North Oak Park.

HBU is back in action Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. against the winner of No. 4 Northwestern State and No. 3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.