By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline softball team handled their business against 8-seed Nickerson on Tuesday afternoon, collecting a dominant, run-rule shortened 15-0 victory to advance to the semifinals.
This win was the 16th of the season for the Lady Trojans by mercy rule and their ninth shutout, pushing their season run differential to +246.
Carly Commerford was nothing short of perfect in the circle, recording all nine outs, including seven via the K, without allowing a single baserunner all day.
On the other side, SES dealt their damage on the strength of seven hits, capitalizing on five Panther errors, and six additional walks.
The heart of the Lady Trojan lineup was firing on all cylinders, as Brielle Ptacek, Lexi Jacobson, Savannah Sutton, and Bryna Baird combined to go 6 for 10 and accounted for six of the eight driven in.
Southeast bookended a three-run second with six in the first and third to slam the door shut early and waltz into the regional semifinals where they will meet Smoky Valley, who knocked off Hesston 7-3 earlier this afternoon.
The winner of that game will play for a ticket to the state tournament in Lyons on Wednesday with first pitch set for 5:30 pm.
For continuing coverage of Lady Trojan softball all postseason long stay tuned to the Salina Post.