Box Score Box Score
HAMMOND – Josh Cryer hit a two-out, bases-clearing double in the first inning and added a two-out RBI single in the third as Southeastern Louisiana defeated Sam Houston State, 9-5, in a Southland Conference game Friday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
Chris Ernest and
Cass Hargis each belted their first home run of the season and
Trey Martin added two hits as Southeastern (34-14, 16-9 Southland) built a 5-2 lead before putting the game away with a four-run sixth.
The series continues on Saturday with a 2 p.m. first pitch. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net.
“The bottom of the lineup played real well,” Southeastern head coach
Jay Artigues said. “
Josh Cryer had some big hits for us, two huge, two-out hits, including the double in the first. I thought we did a good job putting pressure on them, especially in the sixth inning.”
Cryer gave the Lions a 3-0 lead in the first inning after doubling off the center-field wall off SHSU starter Dallas Gallant (2-8). The Lions got their runs as
Jeff Harkensee hit a two-out single,
Cody Gougler drew a walk and
Joe Sparacino was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
The Lions continued their two-out mastery in the third after Gallant fanned
Justin Boudreaux and got Harkensee to ground out to first. Gougler drew a walk – extending his streak of reaching base safely 10 consecutive times dating back to last Sunday's 14-5 win at Nicholls – before Sparacino drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Cryer, who 2-for-4 then singled to center off Gallant, giving Southeastern a 4-1 lead.
Ernest led off the fourth inning with a home run off Gallant, who went 5.1 innings allowing nine runs with nine strikeouts, before the Lions put the game away in the sixth to take a 9-2 lead.
Martin hit a one-out double to right field that scored
Brock Hebert and Ernest before Hargis chased Gallant with a two-run home run to left field.
Brandon Efferson (8-3) pitched 6.1 innings for Southeastern, allowing eight hits and fanning six batters as he snapped a two-game losing streak. The right-hander battled out of three jams early by the Bearkats, including the fourth after SHSU loaded the bases.
Tyler Watkins pitched the final 2.2 innings for the Lions, scattering six hits and allowing a run.
“Brandon did a great job and competed well and
Tyler Watkins came in and threw strikes and let the defense make plays behind him,” Artigues said. “They both really did a good job on the mound. Brandon didn't have his best stuff, but he made some competitive pitches at some crucial times and got us out of innings.”
Taylor Davis led SHSU at the plate going 3-for-5 with a pair of solo home runs and three RBI. Ryan Mooney added three hits for the Bearkats, who out-hit Southeastern, 14-9, but stranded 14 runners on base. Mark Hudson and Kevin Miller added RBI for the Bearkats, who remained two games behind Nicholls for out of the eighth and final spot in the Southland Conference Tournament scheduled for May 26-29 in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Sam Houston State... 010 010 210 - 5 14 2 (17-30, 9-16 SLC)
Southeastern La..... 301 104 00x - 9 9 2 (34-14, 16-9 SLC)
Gallant, Shelton (6), Burchett (7) and Oney, Hilliard (7). Efferson, Watkins (7) and Cryer. W – Efferson (8-3). L – Gallant (2-8). E – Mooney 2 (13), J. Boudreaux (12), Hebert (9). DP - SHSU 1. LOB - SHSU 14, SLU 4. 2B – Hudson (9), Sparacino (7), Cryer (9), Martin (4). HR – Davis 2 (7), Hargis (1), Ernest (1). HBP - Fiebrich, Sparacino. SB – Fiebrich (2), Martin 2 (7). CS – Olson (4). T - 3:05. A – 979.
