Box Score

Box Score

HAMMOND – Cass Hargis hit a second-inning infield single to become Southeastern Louisiana University's all-time hits leader and Tyler Watkins scattered six hits to notch his fourth complete game of the season as the Lions defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 11-1, in a seven-inning Southland Conference game Friday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

The series will conclude on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. Junior right-hander Josh Janway (3-1, 2.68 ERA) will start on the mound for Southeastern while southpaw Todd Simko (5-6, 6.39 ERA) will start for A&M-CC.

Hargis, a fifth-year senior and former Holy Cross High School product, hit the first pitch from Islander starter Justin Meza (2-3) and beat out the throw of shortstop Weston Montgomery for his 277th career hit – breaking the record of 276 held by former teammate Ty Summerlin from 2006-09. Hargis reached all four times he came up to the plate as he was hit by a pitch, drew a bases-loaded walk and reached on an error.

Southeastern (26-14, 12-8 SLC) trailed 1-0 in the third inning after Jeramie Marek led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a base hit by Montgomery and scored two batters later on Bobby Buckner's single up the middle.

Jonathan Pace, who went 3-for-3 for the Lions, hit a one-out double just inside the third-base line and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Boudreaux. The Lions took the lead for good in the fifth inning after Brock Hebert drew a leadoff walk before Pace and Boudreaux each reached safely on bunt singles.

Meza, who pitched 5.2 innings and scattered seven hits with nine strikeouts, retired the next two batters before Hargis worked the count to 3-and-2 and drew a walk that allowed Hebert to score the eventual go-ahead run.

The Lions got a two-out single from Hebert in the sixth inning and Pace drew a walk that chased Meza from the game. Boudreaux, who finished 4-for-4 with five RBI, then greeted Islander reliever Adam Hoelscher as he hit a 3-and-0 pitch for towering home run to left field to give the Lions a 5-1 advantage.

Southeastern put the game away in the seventh as it scored six runs and recorded its first run-rule victory since an 11-1 win against Lamar on March 27, 2009. Josh Cryer led off the inning with a single up the middle before Hargis and Cody Gougler each reached on errors.

Joe Sparacino followed with an RBI single off A&M-CC reliever Michael Boyle before Jacob Fisher added a two-run single past a drawn-in infield. Hebert added an RBI double to drive in Sparacino before Pace lifted a sacrifice fly and Boudreaux hit an RBI single through the left side to close out the game.

Watkins (7-1) threw 81 pitches, including a combined 13 to retire the first six batters he faced, in recording his Southland Conference-leading fourth complete game of the year. The right-hander fanned four batters, walked none and was aided by a pair of double plays as he joined teammate Brandon Efferson for the Southland Conference-lead in victories.

Buckner led A&M-CC at the plate as he went 2-for-3.

A&M-Corpus Christi.. 001 000 0 - 1 6 2 (22-21, 7-13 SLC)
Southeastern La..... 001 013 6 - 11 13 0 (26-14, 12-8 SLC)
Meza, A. Hoelscher (6), Boyle (7), Pena (7) and J. Garcia. Watkins and Fisher. W – Watkins (7-1). L - Meza (2-3). E – J. Garcia (8), A. Hoelscher (2). DP - SLU 2. LOB - AMCC 2, SLU 8. 2B – Hebert (9), Pace (11). HR – Boudreaux (7). HBP - Hargis, Gougler. SH – Hargis (4), Gougler (1). SF – Pace (2), Boudreaux (4). SB – Hebert (18). CS – Buckner (3). T - 2:13. A – 862.