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Brandon Street

Baseball

Southeastern Comeback Clinches Tournament Berth

Lions post school record for SLC wins, lock up second straight tourney trip

Brandon Street drove in four RBI, including the game-winner on Saturday.
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THIBODAUX, La. - The Lions put together a late-inning rally for the second time in as many days, as a two-run ninth put the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team (30-17, 17-9 Southland Conference) ahead for good en route to a 6-5 win over the Nicholls State Colonels (18-27, 8-18 SLC) on Saturday. 

The victory clinched a 2009 Southland Conference Tournament berth for the Lions, marking the first time in school history that Southeastern has earned trips to the Southland Conference Tournament in consecutive seasons.

The victory was also noteworthy in that the Lions set a new single-season school record for Southland Conference wins, came from behind to claim a win for the 19th time this season and extended their winning streak to seven games (tying a season-best mark set from March 13-24).

After neither team could break through in the first two frames, Southeastern struck first in the top of the third.  After loading the bases with two-outs, senior left fielder Brandon Street delivered a two-run single to open the scoring.  Sophomore catcher Josh Cryer followed with an RBI single of his own as the Lions went ahead 3-0 after two and a half.

With an early lead, Southeastern right handed starter Brandon Efferson found his rhythm, yielding just one unearned run to the Colonels over the first seven innings.

Efferson, a Zachary native, went 8.0 innings, allowing just three earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five.

After Nicholls picked up an unearned run in the bottom of the third, Southeastern got some insurance in the top of the fifth as Street drove in his third RBI of the ballgame with a double down the left field line to make it 4-1.

However, the Colonels refused to go quietly.  Nicholls State took advantage of a Lion error in the bottom of the seventh as three hits and a sacrifice fly led to four runs (three earned) to put the Colonels ahead 5-4 after seven.

After failing to cross the plate in the eighth, the Lions faced a do-or-die ninth.  However, Southeastern took advantage of a Nicholls State error to put runners at first and second with one out.

Senior second baseman Ty Summerlin delivered an RBI single to tie the ballgame at five. Street followed with a groundout that drove in his fourth run of the game and team-leading 51st RBI of the year to put Southeastern out in front 6-5.

Junior right hander Chris Franklin came on in the ninth to preserve the win.  After Southeastern's third error of the ballgame put the leadoff man, and potential tying run, on base, Franklin struck out the next two Colonel batters before inducing a game-ending comebacker to nail down the 6-5 win for his 11th save of the season.

The Lions and Colonels will conclude their three-game series on Sunday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field in Hammond.  First pitch is set for 1 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.

NOTES

SLC W's:

With the win, the Lions (who advanced to the SLC Tournament semifinals in 2008) claimed consecutive trips to the SLC Tournament for the first time since joining the SLC in 1998.  The Lions last earned consecutive conference tournament berths in 1996 and 1997 as members of the Trans America Athletic Conference.

Saturday's victory gave the Lions 17 SLC wins, their most in school history since joining the SLC in 1998.

30-Something:

With the victory, Southeastern clinched their third consecutive 30-plus win season.  The Lions went 34-21 in 2007 and 32-27 in 2008.  The last time the Lions posted three straight 30-plus win seasons was 1992-1994 (38-22, 38-17, 34-30).

 Comeback Cats:

Southeastern has now rallied to win 19 ballgames on the year.  Of the Lions' 30 wins, 19 have been of the come-from-behind variety (63.3%).

Sweep-Stakes:

 Southeastern has now won seven consecutive ballgames, tying their season high set from March 13-24.  The Lions will try for a season-best eight-game streak when they go for a sweep of Nicholls State on Sunday.

The Lions will try to sweep their second straight SLC opponent, and earn their third SLC sweep of the season when they look for a sweep of the Colonels tomorrow. Southeastern took each game of a three-game set at Sam Houston State last weekend and swept a three-game set from McNeese State in Hammond March 13-15.

Southeastern has won six consecutive SLC contests dating back to April 19.

 Century Club:

 Josh Cryer's third inning RBI single was the 100th hit of his college career.  He joins outfielders Cass Hargis and Brandon Street as Lions who have notched their 100th base hits this season.

   




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