Zumo leads SLU past ACU to secure 3rd straight SLC softball series win

HAMMOND, La. – Heather Zumo threw a complete-game one-hit shutout to help Southeastern Louisiana claim a 5-0 victory over Abilene Christian in the rubber game of a three-game Southland Conference series Saturday afternoon at North Oak Park.

With the victory, the Lady Lions (17-13, 7-2 Southland) have opened league play by winning the first three series. ACU fell to 7-20 overall and 3-6 in Southland Conference action.

“We felt like we let one get away from us (in game two on Friday),” Southeastern head coach Rick Fremin said. “I was pleased with how we responded. We executed our game plan today and were able to take the series as a result.”

Lindsey Rizzo led Southeastern with a pair of RBI, while Audrey Greely and Cameron Goodman scored two runs apiece for Southeastern. That was more than enough for Zumo (10-2), who struck out eight, walked one and allowed just a leadoff double to ACU’s Val Rudd in the fourth, facing just two batters over the minimum.

“Heather wants the ball,” Fremin said. “She didn’t have her best stuff on Friday, but she definitely did today. We were going to let someone else pitch the final inning, but Heather wanted to close it out herself and we admire that attitude.”

SLU generated all the offense it would need in the bottom of the first versus ACU starter Samantha Bradley (3-11). Aeriyl Mass hit the first pitch of the frame off the fence in right centerfield for a leadoff double. After Rizzo bunted her over to third, Mass scored on an RBI single by Madisen Blackford to give the Lady Lions a 1-0 lead.

Southeastern padded its advantage in the bottom of the second inning. Goodman tripled home the inning’s first run and scored on a Rizzo groundout to stake Zumo to a 3-0 lead.

After allowing a leadoff walk to start the game, Zumo retired the next nine batters she faced. However, Rudd led off the ACU fourth with a double into the left field corner. Zumo left her in scoring position, forcing Calie Burris to foul out to Karlee Kraft before striking out Bradley and Katelyn Belch.
The Lady Lions closed out the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning. A Greely double and a Goodman walk put a pair of runners on with one out. A pair of Rudd errors allowed Greely to score and Goodman came home on an RBI infield single by Rizzo to give SLU a 5-0 lead.

Zumo made that margin hold up, retiring the Wildcats in order over the final three innings for her team-high 10th win of the spring.

Up Next
Southeastern will return to action next week with a three-game Southland Conference series at Nicholls. The series opens with a 5 p.m. contest on Friday and concludes with a noon doubleheader on Saturday.