Southeastern Rallies Late, but Falls to Sacred Heart

Lions can't overcome potent Pioneer lineup

Ty Summerlin claimed sole posession of second place on the Lions' all-time career hits list

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HAMMOND - The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team (3-3) scored five times in the final three frames and sent nine men to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but it was too little too late for the Lions to overcome a strong early showing from the Sacred Heart Pioneers (1-1) in a 13-8 loss in game two of this three-game weekend series on Saturday.

The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead, like they did in Friday's series opener. Sacred Heart plated three in the first and one in the second.

Southeastern answered, however, as an RBI single by Jordan D'Arensbourg in the second got the Lions on the board and a two-run third kept Southeastern within one of Sacred Heart at 4-3 after three.

Unfortunately, for the Lions, the Pioneers began pulling away with a three run fourth inning, five more in the fifth and one more in the seventh to claim a 13-3 lead at the stretch.

The Lions began mounting a comeback effort in the home half of the seventh by sending seven men to the plate. Southeastern took advantage of some costly Pioneer miscues as sophomore center fielder Cass Hargis and senior shortstop Ty Summerlin reached on consecutive errors. An RBI groundout from senior left fielder Brandon Street and a squeeze bunt from sophomore catcher Josh Cryer brought the Lions to within 13-5.

After a scoreless eighth, Southeastern faced a do-or-die ninth. This time the Lions would try to take advantage of free passes from the Pioneer pitching staff. Summerlin led off with a walk. After Street struck out and Cryer was hit by a pitch, senior designated hitter Brian McCants drew a walk to load the bases.

Junior first baseman Joe Sparacino, who entered the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh, drove home a run with an RBI single to make it 13-6. After junior right fielder Philip Freeman struck out, D'Arensbourg and freshman second baseman Justin Boudreaux drew consecutive bases loaded walks to make it 13-8.

Unfortunately, for Southeastern, that's as close as the Lions would get as Sacred Heart reliever Mike Drowne came on to record the final out and leave the bases loaded.

The Lions will look to take the rubber match of this three game series on Sunday. First pitch at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field is scheduled for Noon. Live stats and streaming audio will be available online at www.LionSports.net and the game can be heard on the air in Hammond on KSLU 90.9 FM.

NOTES

Senior shortstop Ty Summerlin went 2-for-3 on Saturday, giving the Vancleave, Miss. native 202 career hits and sole posession of second place on Southeastern's all-time career hits list.

Summerlin entered the contest with 200 hits and surpassed former Lion Joe Labruzzo's (1996-99) total of 201.

Summelrin needs seven more hits to tie, and eight more hits to break, Mackey Waguespack's career hits record of 210 set from 1995-99.

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