HAMMOND, La. - Right fielder Katie Matthews hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh to lead Southeastern Louisiana to a 6-4 victory over Central Arkansas in Southland Conference softball action at North Oak Park on Sunday. The Lady Lions (14-15, 4-5) earned the series sweep over the Bears (12-19, 4-8) despite being hit 12-8.

UCA took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third when sophomore catcher Melanie Bryant and junior Katie McGregor hit back-to-back doubles for the first run of the game, then junior right fielder Nicole Beals followed with a base hit, scoring McGregor.

SLU cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the frame when second baseman Megan McCollum led off with a base hit and was driven in by Matthews. A solo home run by left fielder Kelsey Nichols in the fifth inning tied the game at 2-2.

The Bears retook the lead with two runs on two hits and two errors in the top of the seventh. McGregor led off with a double scored after third baseman Megan Moore made two errors on Beals' sacrifice bunt attempt, allowing Beals to reach third. Senior pinch hitter Shay Ristau followed with a single to left field, plating Beals to make the game 4-2.

McCollum and Michelle Duhe led the bottom of the seventh off with consecutive base hits. UCA junior reliever Cami Newsome got Nichols to pop up to Bryant for the first out. Shorstop Katie Duhe drew a walk to load the bases. McGregor relieved Newsome and gave up the grand slam to Matthews on a 2-2 pitch.

Matthews went 2-for-3 with five RBI to lead the Lady Lions. Katie Duhe also had two hits. UCA sophomore shortstop Melissa Bryant, returning after missing 17 games due to a concussion, had three hits for the Bears. McGregor recorded a pair of doubles and junior first baseman Kasey Britt also had two hits.

SLU reliever Kenna Terry (2-2) struck out five while giving up seven hits and one earned run over 4.2 innings. Newsome (3-6) suffered the loss for the Bears.

UCA will face Oklahoma in Norman on Tuesday night.