Dillard stifles tournament’s top seed, but Southeastern edges Bleu Devils 1-0

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Dillard (La.) turned in a gritty, mistake-tight performance Monday morning, holding the tournament's No. 1 seed Southeastern to a single run, but the Lions escaped with a 1-0 win at the Diamond Plex.

Southeastern (45-7) scored the game's only run in the bottom of the first when Erica Ramsey lined an RBI single to left, bringing home Hailey Bradley for a 1-0 lead. From there, Dillard right-hander Kylie Price settled in and delivered six strong innings, allowing just six hits and one walk with no strikeouts, keeping the Lions from adding on and giving the Bleu Devils a chance deep into the game.

Dillard (25-14) generated five hits and three walks, but couldn't break through against Southeastern pitching. Starter Emma Vickers improved to 10-1 after working 5.1 scoreless innings with five strikeouts, and Maria Zelenka closed the door with a 1.2-inning save, striking out three while allowing no hits.

Defensively, Dillard was charged with two errors, but the Bleu Devils repeatedly limited damage after the opening inning. Southeastern committed one error.

In a contest decided early, Dillard's ability to hold the bracket's top seed to one run kept the game within reach throughout, even as the Lions' pitching staff preserved the slim margin to the final out.

-Bleu Devils-