Kaylee Lopez smacked a pinch-hit double to score Alayis Seneca with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give top-seeded McNeese State a 2-1 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the second round of the Southland Conference softball tournament.

McNeese (42-14) advanced to face the Southeastern Louisiana-Northwestern State winner in a semifinal game at 6:30 p.m. today. The winner of that game will have two chances to win one game in the championship round.

Lopez drilled a double to left-center field with no outs in the seventh to score Seneca, who led the inning off with an infield single and advanced to second on a walk by Reese Reyna.

“(Lopez) might be the best pinch hitter in the country,” Cowgirls head coach James Landreneau said. “She has ice water in her veins. She is able to stay really relaxed and does not try to do too much. She’ll foul pitches off until she gets a mistake. She doesn’t change who she is or try to do too much with the ball.”

The No. 5 Islanders (24-23) took the lead in the fourth inning when Alexandria Torres reached on an infield single and scored on a throwing error by Reyna.

Reyna made amends in the fifth inning, launching a home run off the scoreboard in left field to tie the score.

McNeese squandered early scoring opportunities, striking out seven times with a runner in scoring position over the first five innings, including three in a row in the third with runners on second and third after Reyna and Seneca opened the inning with singles.

“(Islanders pitcher Primrose Aholelei) did an unbelievable job of keeping us off balance,” Landreneau said. “Credit to our kids, they didn’t get frustrated, kept fighting and grinding it out.

“(McNeese starter Whitney Tate) did an unbelievable job. She allows us to play with some freedom. You don’t have to get her many runs to win.”

Tate (16-4) allowed two hits and two walks. Aholelei (16-4) finished with 11 strikeouts.

SLC Tournament

May 9-May 12

At Lake Charles

Tuesday, May 9

Game 1 — No. 5 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3, No. 4 Lamar 2

Game 2 — No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana 7, No. 7 Houston Christian 1

Game 3 — No. 6 Northwestern St. 8, No. 3 Nicholls St. 2

Wednesday, May 10

Game 4 — No. 1 McNeese St. 2, No. 5 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 1

Game 5 — No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana 13, No. 6 Northwestern St. 1, 5 inns.

Thursday, May 11

Game 6 — No. 7 Houston Christian (20-32) vs. No. 3 Nicholls St. (27-23), 11 a.m.

Game 7 — No. 4 Lamar (20-33) vs. Game 5 loser, 1:30 p.m.

Game 8 — No. 5 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (24-23) vs. Game 6 winner, 4 p.m.

Game 9 — No. 1 McNeese St. (42-14) vs. No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, May 12

Game 10 — Game 8 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 11 a.m.

Game 11 — Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 13

Championship

Game 12 — Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, noon

Game 13 — Rematch, 2:30 p.m. if necessary