By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After breezing through their first four opponents, the Southeast of Saline softball team met a real challenge on Thursday, but still prevailed, sweeping Abilene to remain undefeated on the year.
With wins of 8-4 and 14-4, the Lady Trojans rolled to 6-0 on the season, maintaining a ridiculous +82 run differential in the process.
The Cowgirls jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in game one, but SES promptly struck back to tie things up in the home half of the second.
Abilene would waste no time formulating a response with two runs of their own to retake the lead in the third, but a six-run fourth for the Lady Trojans and shutdown pitching down the stretch would put the game out of reach as SES held on to win 8-4.
After pitching her way out of several jams, Bryna Baird turned the ball over to Carly Commerford in the fifth, and the senior went to work without hesitation finishing out the final 2.2 without allowing a single runner to reach base.
Offensively it was another big day for Chase Gilpin and Carly Commerford, who combined to drive in five of the Lady Trojan's eight runs on the day.
After receiving their first real scare of the season, Southeast came back and dominated game two, holding Abilene to just one run through the first four innings.
Meanwhile, the Lady Trojans struck for a run in the first, and six in both the second and third to take a commanding 13-1 lead into the top of the fifth.
The Cowgirls made the most of their last gasp, plating three runs to keep their hopes alive, but SES got the lone run they needed in the bottom of the frame to collect their fifth mercy-rule victory of the season by a 14-4 final.
This time around, it was Lexi Jacobson’s time to shine in the circle, as the junior allowed just one earned run on five hits, striking out four and walking two in a complete game effort.
At the plate, Brielle Ptacek and Lexi Jacobson led the charge as part of a day that saw them combine to go 6/7 with six RBI.
The Lady Trojans will be back in action next Tuesday for the first of four straight road doubleheaders when they make the trip to Salina to resume league play with Sacred Heart.
For continuing coverage of SES softball all season long, stay tuned to the Salina Post.