Southeast Lauderdale’s Ashley Anthony (34) slides into home as West Lauderdale’s Mallory Thompson awaits the throw.

COLLINSVILLE — Southeast Lauderdale’s five seniors ended their prep careers as winners Thursday night. 

Malerie Thornton, Nicole Bouldin, Abbey Leach, Ny’Creesha Ruffin and Ashley Anthony contributed seven hits in their season-ending, 16-3 run-rule shortened victory over West Lauderdale on the Lady Knights’ senior night. West Lauderdale’s Mallory Thompson, Kamryn Shields and Cayley Nance were recognized before the game. 

“This is a great way to end it, especially for our seniors,” Southeast Lauderdale coach Chris Harper said. “They’ve endured a difficult season where we’re in a very strong district. They’ve endured a tough season where they never have quit, never wavered, and they led our team. We’re basically pretty young, so they’ve done a great job of leading us. It was a really good way to go out for these girls.”

The Lady Tigers rattled off eight hits, drew 10 walks and notched 13 RBIs in 22 at-bats. Anthony paced Southeast Lauderdale with five RBIs, Thornton added three and Rileigh Marlow and Lauren Pickett pitched in with two apiece. 

Southeast Lauderdale tallied four runs in the top half of the first inning, which was kicked-started when Pickett drove in Anthony and Leach. Caitlyn Manor scored when Alexis Wilson drew a bases-loaded walk, and Pickett came home when Marlow was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Lady Knights answered in the bottom of the second when Thompson crossed home plate following a passed ball. Hailey Talley also scored in the frame on a passed ball, and courtesy runner Kacey Williams added West Lauderdale’s third run on a dropped third strike during Shields’ at-bat. 

Anthony scored again in the top of the second on a passed ball to bolster the Lady Tigers’ lead at 5-3.

“We know West Lauderdale is well-coached; they have good players, and they’re going to the playoffs,” Harper said. “For us to be able to come out with intensity and play hard, knowing that this was the last game, I was impressed — really impressed with them.”

In the top of the third, Thornton singled to plate Olivia Satterfield, and Anthony smashed a three-RBI double that sent Taylor Williams, Thornton and Bouldin home and extended Southeast Lauderdale’s lead to 9-3. 

Pickett and Satterfield scored via bases-loaded walks in the top of the fourth inning. Williams and Thornton scored after a West Lauderdale fielding error and Anthony scored on a passed ball. 

Thornton knocked in Satterfield, and Wilson posted the Lady Tigers’ 16th run in the top of the fifth. 

“Strategy-wise, we lost Tuesday, so that put us in a position where we could not pitch Lexie (Smith), our starter — we had to save her to play Corinth,” West Lauderdale coach Jessie Kennedy said. “So we just had to come out tonight rearranged again… It’s affected us and the girls, but overall, we’re athletic, and we can overcome. Tonight was kind of a fun night, even though we don’t like to lose to anybody. We just kind of switched people around to give them their time to shine.”

Pickett went five innings for the Lady Tigers in the circle and earned the win. She didn’t allow any earned runs and surrendered just two hits. Thornton, Southeast Lauderdale’s starter, allowed one earned run and exited early. 

Thompson, pitching in just her second game for the Lady Knights this season, was charged with the loss. She allowed eight earned runs, struck out one and walked six. Shields and Lexi Hamilton entered in relief for West Lauderdale.