MOBILE, Ala. – Junior third baseman Chris Franklin drove in four runs and the Lion offense scored six times in the eighth inning, but the rally fell just short as the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team (15-8, 6-3 Southland Conference) could not overcome an eight run deficit against the South Alabama Jaguars (10-13) losing by a score of 13-11 on Wednesday night in Mobile.

Southeastern struck first with a run in the top of the first.  Sophomore center fielder Cass Hargis doubled down the right field line to lead things off and a pair of ground ball outs moved him across the plate.

Unfortunately, for the Lions, South Alabama answered with one in the first to tie things up and four more in the second to take a 5-1 lead.

Southeastern rallied in the third, however, tying things up with a four run frame of its own.  The Lions sent ten men to the plate, taking advantage of three hit batsmen and two walks to go along with a pair of hits. 

Hargis got things started for the Lions once again with a single down the right field line.  After a Jaguar error and a hit batter loaded the bases, sophomore right fielder Josh Cryer picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly.  A two-run single from junior third baseman Chris Franklin and two more hit batsmen brought home three more runs as the Lions tied things up at 5-5 after three.

However, the Jaguars began pulling away in the fourth.  South Alabama plated two runners in the fourth, four in the fifth and two more in the sixth as the Lions found themselves trailing 13-5 heading into the final two frames.

Down by eight in the top of the eighth, the Lions refused to go quietly.  Freshman shortstop Justin Boudreaux singled to left to lead things off and freshman catcher Torin Lucas was hit by a pitch.  After a pop up by Hargis, senior second baseman Ty Summerlin loaded the bases by drawing a one-out walk.

After a pop-up by senior left fielder Brandon Street, the Lions started a big two-out rally.  Cryer brought home the first run of the inning with an RBI walk before Franklin cleared the bases with a three-run double to make it 13-9.

Sophomore first baseman Joe Sparacino followed with an RBI single and consecutive singles by senior designated hitter Brian McCants and Boudreaux brought home Sparcino to make it 13-11.

Unfortunately, that was as close as the Lions were able to get.  With one out in the top of the ninth inning, Street grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game with the tying run at the plate.

Wednesday's contest brought to an end a five-game road trip, Southeastern's longest of the season.  The Lions went 3-2 on the five-game swing.

The Lions will return to action when they host the Lamar Cardinals for the first game of a three-game set on Friday.  Southeastern, which is currently tied for first place in the Southland Conference with Texas State and Texas-San Antonio, will look to regain sole possession of first place.

First pitch at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field is set for 6 p.m.  Live stats and streaming audio play-by-play will be available online at www.LionSports.net, and the game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM.