HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana junior outfielder Michelle Duhe went 2-for-3 with a go-ahead two-run triple and sophomore pitcher Jessie Browne fired a complete-game three-hitter to help the Lady Lions snap a five-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over Southern Miss in non-conference softball action Wednesday night at North Oak Park.
Southeastern (2-8) rallied from two runs down. In addition to Duhe's heroics, senior outfielder Meghan Gomez drove in a run for the Lady Lions. Southern Miss fell to 2-3 overall with the loss.
"This was a good win that will hopefully get us back going," Southeastern head coach Pete Langlois commented. "Jessie was on tonight and we know if she's on, we can go to battle with anybody.
"Michelle's our defensive leader, but she really came up big for us at the plate tonight," Langlois added. "We were also very encouraged that we did commit any errors, which is something that's really hurt us in our previous games."
Browne (1-2) and USM junior pitcher Beth Dietrich (1-2) matched zeroes through the first four innings, before slick Southern Miss base running led to the game's first run.
In the top of the fifth, the Golden Eagles had runners on the corners with two outs. USM senior Chanell Thurman broke towards second and drew a throw from Southeastern senior catcher Trish Bliss. Bliss' throw was late, allowing pinch runner Omeshia Moffett to stride in from third for the game's first run. USM sophomore Morgan Edwards then ripped a single up the middle to push the lead to 2-0.
Dietrich set the first nine Lady Lions she faced down in order, before Duhe led off the fourth with a bunt single. After junior Kelsey Nichols bunted her to second, Gomez lined a single up the middle to cut the lead in half at 2-1.
Southeastern took the lead for good in the fifth inning. As singles by sophomores Megan Moore and Megan McCollum put a pair of runners on. Duhe then ripped her second triple into the right centerfield gap to put the Lady Lions on top, 3-2.
Southern Miss mounted one last threat in the top of the seventh, when freshman Carissa Turang drew a two-out walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Turang then tried to steal third, but Bliss gunned her down and sophomore Kayla Elswick made the tag to preserve the win.
The Lady Lions will now head to Atlanta, Ga. to compete in the Phyllis Rafter Memorial hosted by Kennesaw State. Southeastern opens tournament play on Friday versus Indiana at 3:30 p.m. and Georgia State at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the Lady Lions will take on Bradley at 10:30 a.m. and Eastern Kentucky at 3:30 p.m. Southeastern closes the tournament with a 10:30 a.m. contest versus Campbell.
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