After dropping a two-run decision at the hands of Division I power SIUC earlier in the day, the John A. Logan College softball team bounced back in a big way with a 7-2 win over another Division I school - Southeast Missouri State University - in tournament action at Carbondale.

Freshman Celci Mueller, a Murphysboro native, led the offensive charge for the Lady Volunteers with three hits in four trips to the plate. Sophomore Hanna Brindisi collected a pair of doubles and Lara Runge, Rachelle Runge, Mandi Kellerman and Nicole Cheek each contributed one hit.

Olivia Pittman was the winning pitcher for Logan. She worked the first four innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, while walking one. West Frankfort grad Shayly Wilce relieved Pittman in the fifth and earned the save. Wilce allowed no hits in her three innings of work.

With the score tied 2-2 in the top of the fifth, Lara Runge reached on a one-out error. One out later, Rachelle Runge walked. Kellerman then singled in a run. Brindisi reached on an error, allowing a second run to score and a third run crossed the plate for the Vols when Cheek delivered an RBI single.

“We beat a Division I team in SEMO and had opportunities to beat another one,” said JALC assistant coach Angie Jilek. “Our pitching was good all day long as was our defense. We then hit the ball much better in the second game.”

Now 8-2-2 overall, the Lady Vols return to action next weekend with six games in the University of Tennessee-Martin Classic.