Box Score Box Score
HAMMOND – Jeff Harkensee went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs and four RBI and No. 29-ranked Southeastern Louisiana pulled away with a pair of big innings and defeated Jackson State, 18-2, in a chilly seven-inning rout Tuesday night at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
Brock Hebert had a bases-loaded single in a seven-run fifth inning and
Torin Lucas laced a two-run double in a seven-run sixth as Southeastern (8-0) played its first game since earning a three-game sweep at Mississippi State last weekend.
“I was exceptionally proud of how our guys played tonight,” Southeastern head coach
Jay Artigues said. “After an emotional series win, I was worried about how could we be able to focus. Our guys really competed well and took advantage of what they (Jackson State) gave us.”
Southeastern (No. 29 Collegiate Baseball) trailed 1-0 in the first inning after a throwing error on a pickoff attempt at first base allowed Chad Hall to score from second. The JSU lead would be short-lived as the Lions scored three times in the bottom of the first beginning with an RBI single by Harkensee that drove in
Cass Hargis.
Justin Boudreaux gave the Lions a 2-1 lead when he scored on a wild pitch and Harkensee scored on an RBI ground out by
Cody Gougler.
Jackson State (1-5) cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth on an RBI grounder by Braneric Holmes before Southeastern extended its lead to 4-2 when freshman
Alex Marse scored from third on a wild pitch.
Southeastern erupted in the fifth inning, sending 12 men to the plate and chasing JSU starter Terrance Washington (0-3) after 4.2 innings. Harkensee laced a one-out double – one of two doubles in the inning for the junior college transfer - and scored when he slid in under the tag at home on Gougler's fielder's choice to second.
Josh Cryer scored on a wild pitch for the Lions before Hebert ripped a 3-2 pitch with two outs into center field that scored Gougler,
Philip Freeman and Marse. Harkensee hit an opposite-field double off JSU reliever Edward Lazard that scored Hebert and Hargis and gave Southeastern an 11-2 lead.
Tanner Lorenz and
Stefan Lopez combined to allow one hit for Southeastern while retiring the final 10 batters faced. Lorenz (1-0), making his first start for the Lions, pitched five innings and fanned nine batters before Lopez pitched the final two innings with a strikeout.
The Lions recorded a school-record nine stolen bases with Freeman swiping three. Hargis and Hebert had two stolen bases each for Southeastern, which also benefited from 15 walks issued by four JSU pitchers.
Southeastern will return to action on Wednesday as it plays host to in-state rival Louisiana-Lafayette in a 6 p.m. contest. The game is billed as “Down on the Diamond” as the Southeastern Campus Activities Board will offer free food drinks and t-shirts to Southeastern students in attendance.
Tickets are available by calling the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or on-line at www.LionSports.net.
Jackson State....... 100 100 0 - 2 1 1
Southeastern La..... 300 177 X - 18 7 2
Washington, Lazard (5), Johnson (6), Gray (6) and Cole, Bravo (6). Lorenz, Lopez (6) and Cryer, Lucas (7). W – Lorenz (1-0). L – Washington (0-3). E – Wesley (2), Hargis (2), Cryer (2). DP - SLU 1. LOB - JSU 3, SLU 8. 2B – Harkensee 2 (5), Lucas (1). HBP - Mustafaa, Cryer, Livingston, Freeman. SB – Wesley 2 (5), Hargis 2 (4), Cryer (1), Freeman 3 (5), Marse (1), Hebert 2 (4). T - 2:48. A – 373.
