Box Score

JACKSON, Miss. – Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team (27-17) scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead against Jackson State (32-18), and the Lion bullpen held on to nail down an 8-7 victory in the finale of a six-game road trip Tuesday night.

The Tigers struck in the bottom of the first inning, as senior right-hander Ryan Collins struggled early in his first career start. Collins allowed a walk, a bunt single, a wild pitch and a two-run single, as the Tigers took a 3-0 lead after one.

Southeastern responded in the top of the second as freshman designated hitter Cody Gougler drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 3-1.

The Lions knotted the score in the third, as sophomore third baseman Josh Cryer doubled home senior second baseman Ty Summerlin to make it 3-2. After Cryer took third on a passed ball, senior infielder Jordan D'Arensbourg drove him in with a pinch hit sacrifice fly to tie the score at 3.

The Lions took their first lead in the top of the fourth, as Summerlin drove in freshman catcher Torin Lucas to give Southeastern a 4-3 advantage.

However, JSU answered with a two-out run in the bottom of the fourth, as a double by Jerome Tyes drove home another Tiger run to tie the score after four innings.

Neither team could break through in the fifth or sixth, but the Lions reclaimed the lead for good in the top of the seventh. Southeastern scored four times with two outs, thanks to four hits, two walks and a JSU wild pitch. Junior infielder Chris Ernest had the biggest hit with a two-run pinch-hit single to put the Lions up, 8-4.

After working six innings and holding the Tigers to four runs on seven hits, while walking three and striking out three, Collins turned things over to the Lion bullpen.

Junior right hander Chris Franklin kept the Tigers off the board in the seventh before allowing a pair of runs and giving way to senior right hander Robert Rugg with one out and two men on in the eighth with the Lions protecting an 8-6 lead. A wild pitch allowed another Tiger run to score to cut the Lion lead in half. Fortunately for the Lions, Rugg retired the next two batters and set JSU down in order in the ninth to earn his first career save and secure the Lions' fourth straight victory.

Southeastern will host Jackson State on Wednesday at Alumni Field to close out the home-and-home series. Live stats and streaming audio will be available at www.LionSports.net. The game will also be broadcast in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9).