MONROE, La. – Southeast Missouri State scored all nine of its runs in the final three innings to defeat HBU softball, 9-7, to begin the Mardi Gras Classic Friday afternoon from ULM Softball Complex.

HBU (2-4) had six different players with a hit. Holly Webb's first hit of the season turned into three RBI for the senior. Cecilia Bauer had two RBI, while Kirsten Schwirtlich and Kay Schroeder each had one.

Kendall Stiefel started in the circle took the loss, as she allowed six hits, five runs, and five walks while striking out eight in 5.2 innings. Shannon O'Connor pitched 1.2 innings and gave up five hits and four runs.

Lindsay Patterson and Renee Terry each had two hits for SEMO (1-0). Patterson had three RBI and a run scored while six other Redhawks had one RBI.

Keaira Schilling started in the circle and got a no-decision. She allowed three hits, two runs, and one walk with one strikeout in 3.1 innings. Aubrey Denno pitched 1.0 inning and gave up three hits, five runs, and three walks. Hannah Durham tossed the final 2.2 innings and earned the win, as she did not allow a hit or a run.

HBU took the lead early with a five-run bottom of the first. After an RBI single by K. Schwirtlich and Schroeder was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded made the score 2-0, still with the bases loaded, Webb hit a bases-clearing, three-run double to left field.

There was no score until the top of the sixth, when SEMO tied the game with a five-run inning. Patterson hit a one out, three-run home run to make the score 5-3 HBU. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Rachael Duncan and Kelsey Gass knotted the score at 5-5.

The bottom half of the sixth proved key in the game, as HBU had the bases loaded and nobody out, but was only able to get two runs out of the situation. The damage came off the bat of Bauer, who hit a one-out, two-run single to left that scored Shay Orsak and K. Schwirtlich. Schroeder followed with a single that loaded the bases again with just one out, but the Redhawks got a fielder's choice and a ground out to end the threat.

After a single by Terry that started the top of the sixth, Alexis Anderson brought her home with an RBI double to right-center to make the score 7-6 in favor of HBU. After a sac bunt brought Anderson to third, she scored on a single up the middle from Haylee Krack to tie the game at 7-7. The go-ahead run came from Savannah Carpenter, who hit an RBI single to right field to give the Redhawks an 8-7 lead.

SEMO got an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Leah Duffe hit a one-out home run to left-center.

HBU went down in order in the bottom half of the inning to end the game.

HBU will look for revenge as the Huskies take on the Redhawks again Saturday, Feb. 15 at 11 am. The Huskies then play host ULM at 3:15 pm. The tournament concludes with a 10 am first pitch on Sunday against Eastern Illinois.