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Baseball 5/10/2009 12:38:24 AM

Four Run Eighth Leads to Lion Win

Southeastern evens series with SFA at one apiece

Chris Ernest's two-run single gave the Lions the win on Saturday.

Box Score

HAMMOND - It took a while, but the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team (33-17, 19-10) rallied for the win for the 22nd time this season as a four run bottom of the eighth inning propelled the Lions to an 11-10 win in a three hour and 43 minute back-and-forth struggle with the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks on Saturday night at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

The Lions came from behind to win a ballgame for the 22nd time this season while also surpassing their 2008 win total of 32 and ensuring that Southeastern can receieve no lower than a No. 7 seed at the 2009 SLC Tournament. Texas-Arlington also fell to Lamar, giving the Lions sole posession of second place in the SLC once again.

Stephen F. Austin jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first. The Lumberjacks added three more in the third to help chase Lion right handed sophomore starter Brandon Efferson after just 3.2 IP.

Fortunately, for Southeastern, the Lions rallied with a run in the second before a solo homer by freshman shortstop Justin Boudreaux, an RBI single by sophomore cathcer Josh Cryer and a run-scoring double by senior designated hitter Brian McCants plated three more runs in the third to make it 5-4 Lumberjacks after three.

Southeastern briefly tied things up in the fifth as senior second baseman Ty Summerlin homered to knot the score at five. After SFA reclaimed the lead with a run in the top of the sixth, Southeastern scored a pair in the bottom half to take a 7-6 lead.

Unfortunately, the Lumberjacks would not go quietly as SFA scored three more times in the seventh and added another run in the top of the eighth to reclaim the lead and put Southeastern down 10-7.

However, the Lions rallied once again as sent eight men to the plate in the bottom of the eighth. Southeastern strung together three hits and took advantage of two hit batsmen. Junior third baseman Chris Ernest had the biggest knock with a two-out two-run single that put Southeastern out in front 11-10.

Junior right hander Chris Franklin came on in the ninth and stranded the tying run at second base to preserve the win for his 12th save of the season.

Southeastern will return to action on Sunday for the rubber match of the Lions' three-game set with Stephen F. Austin. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field in Hammond. In honor of Mothers' Day, all mothers will receive a free general admission ticket to the game.

Sunday also marks the final home game of the season for the Lions and the final home game in the career of seven Lion seniors. A special pregame Senior Day ceremony will honor the Lion baseball class of 2009.

The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM.

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