Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

                                                                   
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – For the second straight day, the Southeastern Louisiana softball team battled to a split at the Texas A&M Invitational Saturday at the Aggie Softball Complex.
                     
Southeastern (10-4) opened the day with a 3-2 victory over former Southland Conference rival UTSA (7-6). Junior pitcher Rachael Hellyer (4-0) remained unbeaten in the circle, scattering four hits in a complete game effort. Senior catcher Katie Doyle paced the Lady Lion offense with a two-run home run, while senior shortstop Kayla Elswick and freshman outfielder Katie Lacour each collected two hits for the Lady Lions.
 
In the nightcap, a pair of Purdue pitchers -  freshman Lilly Fecho (x-x) and sophomore Alex Whittemore - combined to hold the Lady Lions to just two hits in a 6-0 victory. Junior second baseman Megan McCollum and senior outfielder Michelle Duhe had the lone hits for the Lady Lions. Senior Kati Morse (2-1) suffered her first loss of the season in the circle, allowing three runs to the Boilermakers (6-7) in 4.2 innings of work.
 
Southeastern will close play at the tournament on Sunday, facing tournament host and ninth-ranked Texas A&M at 12:15 p.m. Live video (subscription required), audio and stats provided by Texas A&M can all be accessed at LionSports.net.
 
Game One – UTSA 3, Southeastern Louisiana 2
Southeastern jumped out to a 2-0 lead against UTSA junior Jolene Graham (2-3) in the bottom of the first inning. Junior designated player Jessie Browne drew a two-out walk, then Doyle deposited a 0-1 offering over the left field fence. The Mesa, Ariz. native's first home run of her Southeastern career staked the Lady Lions to a 2-0 lead.  
 
UTSA cut into the lead in the top of the second inning. With one out, junior left fielder Sierra Sproul powered a solo home run over the left field fence to cut the Lady Lion advantage to 2-1.
 
Southeastern got the run back in its half of the frame. With one out, consecutive singles by Elswick, Duhe and Lacour loaded the bases. Elswick would later come in to score on an RBI groundout by Browne to push the Southeastern lead to 3-1.
 
Hellyer mowed through the UTSA lineup until the Roadrunners made one final push in the top of the seventh inning. Sophomore catcher Megan Low led off the inning with a double and scored two outs later on an infield single by freshman infielder Victoria Birdwell. That was as close as UTSA would get, as Hellyer retired senior pinch hitter Samantha Beeson to preserve the victory – the third complete game win is as many starts for the Folsom, Calif. native.
 
Game Two – Purdue 6, Southeastern Louisiana 0
Purdue touched up the Lady Lions for a run in the top of the second, after Morse had retired the Boilermakers in order in the first. Junior catcher Danielle Fletcher led off the inning with a double and later scored on a two-out single by senior first baseman Ashley Courtney to stake the Boilermakers to the lead.
 
Southeastern mounted its best scoring threat in the bottom of the second inning. McCollum singled, then Fecho hit sophomore third baseman Megan Moore to put a pair of runners on. However, Fecho kept the Lady Lions off the board by retiring junior first baseman Tori Sheppard and Elswick to get out of the inning.
 
Morse held Purdue in check until she was chased from the game in the top of the fifth inning. RBI singles by junior designated player Kristin Morgan and junior outfielder Lindsey Rains put Purdue on top, 3-0. Senior Kenna Terry struck out Fletcher to end the inning and limit the damage.
 
Any hope of a Southeastern comeback was ended in the top of the sixth inning. A three-run double by Rains gave Purdue a commanding 6-0 lead.
 
Southeastern put one base runner on in the seventh inning, when McCollum drew a one-out walk. However, Whittemore sat down Moore and Sheppard to close out the shutout victory.