The Lady Lions celebrate (below) celebrate their victory in the final game of the three-game series against Northwestern State.
The Lion’s Roar / Elizabeth Brown

The Lady Lions took on Northwestern State University’s Lady Demons this past Friday in a doubleheader, and again on Saturday for their final game. Friday, the Lady Lions (21-28, 15-10 Southland) were defeated by NSU in both games, but they made their comeback in a close victory on Saturday, which was also Senior Day. 

On Friday, the Lady Lions faced NSU in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at North Oak Park. In the first of the three-game series, the game began with a pitcher’s duel between senior pitcher Spencer Adkinson and NSU’s Mikayla Brown. In the bottom of the first inning, junior outfielder Katie Lacour singled with a bunt and Amber Sather, junior designated player, broke a school record for her single-season 39th walk, which advanced Lacour to second base, but the chance of scoring in the first inning came to an end when senior third baseman Megan Moore was called out. In the top of the sixth inning, NSU scored three points, from which the Lady Lions never recovered. The final score was 0-3. 

For their second game in the doubleheader, in the top of the first, NSU scored one run. In the top of the third, the Lady Demons scored three more points, putting them above the Lady Lions, 0-4. In the bottom of the third, Carlie Whittington, freshman catcher, advanced to first. Lacour singled with a bunt, advancing Whittington to second base. Next, Eng advanced to first, Lacour went to second and Whittington took third. The Lady Lions scored their first point when the Lady Demons made an error when Booker hit the ball into left field. In that play, Eng advanced to second, Lacour advanced to third and Whittington scored. Following that play, Sather doubled to right center field, which allowed Eng and Lacour to score two more points for the Lady Lions, putting the team at 3-4. The mercy rule was called in the top of the sixth inning, with the Lady Lions finishing this game 3-13. 

Saturday, the Lady Lions once again faced the Lady Demons for their final game of the three-game series and of the regular season. Despite their two previous losses, their final game went 13 innings. Before the game began, seniors Megan Moore, Vanessa Eng, Spencer Adkinson, first baseman Teresa Lemos and pitcher Tori Stamper were honored in a Senior Day ceremony. 

The score remained 0-0 until the top of the fourth inning when NSU scored two points. However, their advantage did not last. In the bottom of the fourth, Booker singled then Sather walked, putting Booker at second. Grace DeLee, freshman infielder and utility, pinch ran for Sather. Moore walked, DeLee advanced to second and Booker advanced to third. Amanda Livaudais, junior outfielder pinch ran for Moore. Next, Mychal Truxillo, sophomore outfielder, singled, allowing Livaudais to advance to third and DeLee and Booker to tie the score, 2-2. The score remained deadlocked until the top of the 12th inning when NSU scored one point, putting them ahead, 2-3. 

In the bottom of the 12th, Sloan Jenkins, sophomore outfielder, advanced to third base then Lacour singled. Next, Booker singled, allowing Lacour to advance to second and Jenkins to score, tying the score, 3-3, for the second time in this game. In the top of the 13th inning, the Lady Demons scored another point, 4-3, giving them their advantage back. 

In the bottom of the 13th, Adkinson placed on second and Truxillo walked. Lemos singled, allowing Truxillo to advance to second and Adkinson to third base. Jenkins doubled to left field, allowing Lemos to advance to third and Truxillo and Adkinson to score, making it a 5-3 victory for the Lady Lions. 

Jenkins, who made it possible for the Lady Lions to win in the last few seconds of the game with a double, noted her individual performance and thoughts on the final play of the game. 

“I’ve been making sure that I go in and hit extra and a lot of the other hitters in this game have done really well, and I couldn’t have done it without people on base,” said Jenkins. 

Langlois also commented on the team’s efforts.

“Considering we played a double header; I’m really proud of them. Everybody did great and we had that clutch hit right there at the end to get the win,” said Langlois. “It’s probably one of the better seasons we’ve had in a while and to come knock off the number one team in the conference is a big win for us.” 

In celebration of Senior Day and their victory of the last game of the regular season, the Lady Lions, friends enjoyed crawfish and drinks following the game. 

Up next for the Lady Lions is the 2015 Southland Softball Tournament in Natchitoches, Louisiana against Lamar University on Wednesday, May 6 at 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit lionsports.net.