Senior outfielder Maddie Edmonston led the comeback in the bottom of the sixth innings with an infield single and later an RBI in the exhibition game against Louisiana State University at Eunice.
Rachel Taylor/The Lion’s Roar
The Lady Lions softball team started off their season with three exhibition games last weekend. They won two and tied the other game to get the 2018 schedule underway.
The first game was on Friday, Sept. 29 against Louisiana State University at Eunice. The team earned an 8-7 win. The second game was a 7-7 tie against Jones County Junior College on Saturday, Sept. 30, and their third game followed shortly after that resulted in a 3-2 win against Louisiana State University of Alexandria.
Friday’s game began with a slow start with the Lady Lions giving up six runs by the sixth inning.
“We needed to settle in, and I feel like that’s what we didn’t do to begin with,” said senior infielder Mahalia Gibson. “I don’t know if we were amped up, or maybe too low, but we just need to find a medium.”
The game picked up at the bottom of the sixth after an infield single by senior outfielder Maddie Edmonston, which led to an RBI by senior outfielder Kinsey Nichols. Gibson then batted an RBI followed by junior infielder Rebecca Skains who did the same.
It helps that the Lady Lions were no stranger to their first opponent with three of their members formerly belonging to LSU Eunice.
“I always look forward to playing them and seeing them on the field since that’s where I came from and of course, beating them too,” said Edmonston.
Head Coach Rick Fremin discussed the competition against LSU Eunice.
“They win, they compete, they put out good, tough athletic players.”
When it comes to recruitment, the Lady Lions look for certain qualities in their players.
“We look for character, skill set, and we want them to have the tools from the speed standpoint, softball IQ, their academics need to be on point, and if we can get local talent that’s what we want to do first,” said Fremin. “We will look at bordering states, but the further we go out, they just have to bring more to the table in their skill set.”
Edmonston had two hits against her former team, but it was former Eunice player Rebecca Skains, currently a Lady Lions infielder, that clinched the game by hitting a walk off in the tenth inning.
With the win against LSU Eunice and Alexandria, the season is looking strong this year for the Lady Lions, and they would look to better the 26-29 record they had in the previous season.
“The chemistry is really strong, and I feel like that was what we needed last year,” said Gibson. “Coming into this year it is ten times better.”
The team’s next game is on Oct. 5 against Coastal Alabama Community College.