Sacred Heart picks up key win over Mamou

When the Sacred Heart Lady Trojans and the Mamou Lady Demons squared off against each other on the softball diamond Monday, the two teams knew the implications of earning a win. Even though it was not a district game, each squad understood that a win would gain much needed power points for post-season seeding.
With that fact in the forefront, the two perennial playoff contenders slugged it out for seven innings, with the Lady Trojans taking the victory in dramatic fashion 3-2. With the win, Sacred Heart moves to 7-3 on the year. Mamou drops to 2-4 with the loss.
Mamou struck first, picking up a run in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Logan Thomas singled to left field. The very next batter, Maggie Soileau took a 2-2 pitch and roped a double to right field, scoring Thomas. Madison Trahan popped out to first base for the final out of the inning.
The Lady Demons added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kelsie Mayeaux doubled to lead off the inning. After Kourtnie Deshotel grounded to first, advancing Mayeaux, Ariel Lavigne singled to set up runners on first and third. Katiee Bertand flied to second base to record the second out. With two outs and runners on first and third, Amber Manuel, singled on a 2-2 pitch scoring Mayeaux.
Sacred Heart found it hard going trying to get on the board. The Lady Trojans finally broke the string of goose eggs scoring a run in the top of the sixth. Baylee Veillon reached on an error to lead off the inning. A strike out by Sydney Soileau produced the first out. A single by Elizabeth Soileau and a Courtney Vidrine walk loaded the bases for Gabbie Andrepont. Andrepont drove a 1-2 pitch to left field for a base hit, plating Veillon. The inning ended when Caroline Fontenot flied out to the shortstop.
After blanking the Lady Demons in the bottom of the sixth, Sacred Heart found themselves in a true do or die situation in the top of the seventh. Needing at least one run to tie, the Lady Trojans produced two dramatic runs. A single by Hannah Lemoine started the rally. Logan Shipp followed with a single of her own to put runners at first and second with no outs.
With two strikes on her, Veillon lined a double to center field scoring Lemoine and sending Shipp to third base. The next batter, Elizabeth Soileau, hit a deep fly ball to center field, allowing Shipp to tag up and score the go ahead run.
Mamou was able to work out of the inning recording the third out when Fontenot flied to short again.
The Lady Demons, now down 3-2, needed some offense to at least tie the game and send it into extra innings. However, Soileau, on the hill for Sacred Heart, would not allow that to happen. Mamou went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to close out the victory for the Lady Trojans.
Soileau earned the win for Sacred Heart, throwing seven complete innings, giving up two runs on nine hits, while striking out two and walking one. At the dish, Andrepont went two for three with a run batted in to lead the Lady Trojans. Veillon was one for three with a double and a run batted in.
Maggie Soileau recorded the loss for Mamou, pitching seven innings, giving up three runs on eight hits, while striking out five. Amber Manuel led the Lady Demons at the plate, going three for four with a run batted in. Kelsie Mayeaux was two for three, with a double and a run scored.