Games are supposed to get tougher the deeper a team gets into the postseason.

Nobody sent that memo to Southeast Lauderdale … or if they did, coach Mack Fanning balled it up and tossed it in the trash.

The Lady Tigers cruised past Franklin County in the second round of the MHSAA Class 3A slow-pitch playoffs Saturday — winning 16-3 and 12-2 to sweep their best-of-three series.

The 23-run differential by SEL was the largest by any area team in the second round of the playoffs.

“We had a good day as a whole,” Fanning said. “We had some big hits, (Erin) Conley pitched well and our defense was very good. The outfield did a great job.”

Never really threatened in either game, Southeast dismantled the visitors with the long ball in Game 1, and by taking advantage of Lady Bulldog mistakes and coming up with big hits with runners on base in Game 2.

Lainie Simcox and Brittany Pounders reached base all seven times they stepped in the batters box. The No. 3 and 4 hitters combined for three home runs, three intentional walks and a single in the opener, including a walk-off grand slam.

After two quick outs in the bottom of the first Simcox and Pounders were both put on base.

Taylor Bailey made the Lady Dawgs pay when she sent a shot into left-center field. Courtney Reid misplayed the ball allowing both runs to score. Tiffany Roulier kept the rally going, but it came to an end when second baseman KeKe Collins made a jumping grab to steal a base hit from Laci Maxwell.

The next time the Lady Tigers came to the plate, two walks and a pair of errors scored two runs and left two runners on with Simcox up. Her RBI single made it a 5-0 game.

Pounders cleared the bases with a monster shot to right-center that had no problem staying in the park.

SEL didn’t score again until the fourth inning. Conley doubled to the fence in right and Paige Sheppard beat the throw to first on a ground ball.

Following a popup, Simcox stepped up to the plate and hit her own three-run home run. Her shot barely cleared the fence — and the glove of the outstretched Reid — in left-center field.

Pounders drew her second intentional walk in the subsequent at bat. Southeast led 11-0 through four.

Franklin County’s only runs of the game came in the next inning.

The Lady Tigers recorded two quick outs with Vandrianna Norman at the plate. Conley got her to pop up but was unable to hang on as she dove for the ball. Three more singles by FCHS plated one run when Collins lifted one into left field.

Kimberly Duncan — who entered the game as a defensive replacement for Denisha Knight — dropped the ball, allowing two more runs to score. Duncan would redeem herself in the bottom of the frame.

Three consecutive singles loaded the bases for Sheppard. Her sacrifice fly scored one run and gave the Lady Tigers their second out.

Duncan’s patience at the plate was rewarded as she earned a big walk.

The Franklin County coaches contemplated intentionally walking Simcox, but before a decision was made pitcher Mildred Starks’ first offering was already headed deep down the left-field line.

The ball stayed fair by only a few feet and gave SEL a 16-3 win.

“Lainie was put in that position to end the game for us because of the walk that loaded the bases,” Fanning said.

The second game lacked the fireworks, but was just as successful for Southeast.

The Lady Tigers jumped out to a big lead and coasted down the stretch as Fanning was able to play some younger players.

Back-to-back singles by Sheppard and Knight put the Lady Dawgs in a tough spot … no outs with Simcox and Pounders due up.

FCHS walked both, giving Southeast a 1-0 lead. Pounders ended the second game never taking the bat off her shoulders and driving in one run.

When Bailey grounded to third two more runs scored as the throw home was too high for catcher LayLay Griffin.

Cortney Harper blooped a single into shallow center plating one more run to close out the first inning scoring.

A solo homer by Griffin made it a 5-1 game entering the second inning.

Conley drew a leadoff walk and scored when Sheppard hit a ground ball — which rolled all the way to the fence — through the legs of the second baseman.

Sheppard scored on an error in right field as Norman dropped a fly ball off the bat of Simcox.

Pounders was intentionally walked and Bailey singled up the middle. Roulier’s infield single with the bases loaded scored a run, making the score 8-1. Roulier went 2-for-2 in the game.

A single by Maxwell, a walk to Harper and a fielder’s choice by Brianna Newell all scored a run apiece.

The score stayed at 11-1 until the fourth inning. Harper — who went 2-for-2 at the plate — drove in her third run of the game with a single.

With the wins, Southeast has punched its ticket to the state semifinals where a familiar foe awaits. Newton County and SEL split their two meetings this year after meeting in the South State championship series last year.

“It’s definitely a matchup that looks good on paper,” Fanning said. “Slow-pitch softball is very good in this area, and with two 3A schools you could see it coming.”

The best-of-three series, which will be played in Decatur, starts at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday.