Softball’s Southland Conference season starts Saturday at Southeastern

Saturday, March 12

Hammond, La.

6 p.m.

Abilene Christian

Southeastern Louisiana

Photo by: Jeremy Enlow

3/10/2016 4:18:00 PM | Softball

By: Daniel Block, ACU Media Relations Intern

Live Stats | Video

ABILENE - Abilene Christian softball opens up its Southland Conference slate this weekend when it travels to Hammond, La. for a three-game series against the Lady Lions of Southeastern Louisiana on March 12 and 13.

The series was moved back one day because the threat of bad weather.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday, with a doubleheader to follow Sunday as action gets underway at 11 a.m. All three games will be streamed and have live stats accessible through LionSports.net.

The Wildcats (6-11) are coming off a strong showing at home last weekend in which they put up 31 runs in 15 innings, dismantling Arkansas–Pine Bluff by scores of 8-0, 9-0 and 14-3. ACU displayed its prowess at the plate, combining for four home runs among its 15 extra-base hits, and the Wildcats now sit second in the conference with 14 home runs in 17 games.

Hannah Null pitched the second no-hitter of her career in the first victory, and freshman Allison Turner recorded a three-hit shutout in game two. Junior transfer Casey-May Huff then earned the win in the series finale, scattering five hits over 5.0 innings.

The Wildcats again will lean on Null to lead another solid weekend in the circle as they prepare to face the league's second-ranked offense. The Lions (12-9) are hitting .313 as a team, backed by the trio of Katie Lacour (.456), Amber Sather (.451) and Kinsey Nichols (.435), who so far own the top three batting averages in the Southland this season.

The Wildcats hit .458 over the weekend, led by Brianna Barnhill (.600) and Taylor Brown (.571). Barnhill drove in six runs and hit a grand slam to earn an honorable mention for Southland Conference Player of the Week, and Null garnered the same in recognition of her no-hit shutout.

Last weekend's offensive outburst was a welcome sight for Bobby Reeves.

"Our offense needed exactly this kind of day," said ACU's sixth-year head coach following the team's Saturday doubleheader sweep of Pine Bluff. "They needed to get that shot of confidence and return to feeling good about themselves."

Brown is the lone Wildcat hitting over .300, as the junior outfielder has batted at a .400 clip (20-for-50) through non-conference play.

Defensively, ACU leads the conference with a .970 fielding percentage and its 13 errors committed are the fewest in the league.