HAMMOND – Chris Franklin pitched all nine innings for Southeastern Louisiana, striking out eight, and Josh Cryer hit a grand slam as part of a seven-run third, helping the Lions beat Nicholls, 9-4, Saturday in a Southland Conference game at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

The series moves back to Thibodaux for the finale Sunday. First pitch has been moved to noon due to the threat of inclement weather. Play-by-play will be available on KSLU-FM (90.9) in the Hammond area and on the internet at LionSports.net.

Franklin (6-4) recorded his second straight complete game as he scattered four runs on five hits. Nicholls starter Tyler Minto (4-3) suffered the loss, lasting three innings. He surrendered seven runs on four hits with two walks and one strike out.

The Lions (32-13, 14-9 Southland) fell behind 1-0 when Blake Bergeron led off the top of the third with a home run to left, but immediately countered with a seven-run outburst in the bottom of the frame.

Chris Ernest started the scoring by singling home Brock Hebert, who led off with a double. Four batters later, Jeff Harkensee hit a sacrifice fly to left, plating Ernest. After a Cody Gougler walk loaded the bases, Joe Sparacino was hit by a pitch to bring home Trey Martin. That was followed by Cryer's four-run shot, making the score 7-1 in favor of Southeastern.

Nicholls (22-20, 11-12 SLC) trimmed the deficit with two runs in the top of the fourth, and Southeastern got one back in the bottom half when Ernest scored on a fielding error.

Southeastern scored its final run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Gougler registered a RBI on an infield single, scoring Justin Boudreaux that gave the Lions a 9-3 lead. The Colonels got one back in the top of the ninth on a Brady Bourque solo home run.

Nicholls............ 001 200 001 - 4 5 1      (22-20, 11-12 SLC)

Southeastern La..... 007 100 100 - 9 9 0      (32-13, 14-9 SLC)

Minto,  Cooper (4), Erwin (7), Bonvillian (8) and Schlegel. Franklin and Cryer. W – Franklin (6-4). L - Minto (4-3). E – Gauthe (4). DP - Nicholls 1, SLU 1. LOB - Nicholls 2, SLU 6. 2B – Hebert (10). HR – Kulbeth (6), Bourque (2), Bergeron (3), Cryer (4). HBP - Sparacino, Cryer. SH – Hargis (4), Martin (10). SF – Harkensee (2). SB – Hargis (14). T - 2:06. A – 798.