Box Score Box Score
THIBODAUX – Southeastern Louisiana senior
Philip Freeman and sophomore
Cody Gougler each had two hits and a run batted in, but the Lions could not manage much more against Nicholls starter Clint Dempster in a 5-3 loss to the Colonels in the opening game of a Southland Conference baseball series Friday night at Ray E. Didier Field.
The Lions squandered an early 2-0 lead and fell to 31-13 overall and 13-9 in conference play. Nicholls (22-19, 11-11 Southland) rode the arm of Dempster (5-4), who fanned 16 in a complete game effort, to its fourth consecutive victory.
Sophomore
Justin Boudreaux also drove in a run for Southeastern. Junior
Brandon Efferson (7-3) took the loss for the Lions, scattering seven hits and striking out eight in seven innings of work.
The Lions jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Boudreaux reached and advanced to second on a fielding error by Brady Bourque with one out. One out later, Gougler singled him home to put the Lions on top.
After Efferson worked a perfect first, Southeastern added to its lead in the second, again taking advantage of a Nicholls fielding miscue. After reaching on a single, junior
Josh Cryer advanced all the way to third on a two-base throwing error by Dempster. Freeman followed with a single through the right side to plate Cryer and give the Lions a 2-0 cushion.
The lead would be short-lived, as the Colonels got to Efferson in the third inning. Singles by Kevin Schlegel and Adam Miley, as well as a walk issued to Keith Kulbeth loaded the bases with two outs. Beau Faulk followed with a bases-clearing double down the right field line to put the Colonels up, 3-2.
Nicholls turned the tables and took advantage of a Lion error in the fourth. Chase Jamarillo singled to lead off the inning, advanced to second on an Efferson throwing error and scored on a Schlegel ground out. Kasey Culverson, who reached on Efferson's miscue, would score later in the frame on a single by Bear Comer to put NSU up, 5-2.
The Lions mounted a threat in the top of the sixth inning, as Gougler doubled with one out. Dempster recovered, however, striking out junior
Joe Sparacino and freshman
Brock Hebert to get out of the inning unscathed.
Southeastern was able to cut into the lead in its half of the seventh. Cryer walked and junior
Cass Hargis reached on a fielder's choice to put runners at the corners with two outs. Boudreaux then legged out an infield single, allowing Cryer to score and keeping the inning alive. With two on, Dempster was able to keep the Colonel lead at two by striking out junior
Jeff Harkensee to end the frame.
A
Chris Franklin walk was all the Lions could manage against Dempster in the final two innings. The Colonel southpaw's forced Hargis to hit a comebacker to the mound on his 147th and final pitch of the complete-game seven-hit effort.
The two teams will head to Hammond on Saturday for a 12 p.m. contest. Saturday's start time was moved up two hours due to anticipated inclement weather later in the day on Tuesday. The contest will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net.
