Box Score
HAMMOND – With the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, Southeastern Louisiana catcher
Jacob Fisher cleared the bases with a double to leftfield propelling the Lions to a 7-2 season-opening victory of Indiana State.
“Our guys did a great job of staying with the game plan and keeping the pressure on Indiana State,” head coach
Jay Artigues said. “We got that big hit from Jacob;
Brock Hebert had a great day at the plate. We moved some runners around and it was a great team effort offensively.”
Southeastern (1-0) led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth when
Ben Hernandez led off the inning by reaching base on an error by Sycamore relief pitcher Kyle Kudrecki. After a balk moved Hernandez to second base, Indiana State head coach Rick Heller went to the bullpen for right-hander Chris Machado.
Machado walked Southeastern center fielder
Harry Slade and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. With the infield pulled in, senior
Jonathan Pace grounded out to the second baseman. Indiana State (0-1) intentionally walked designated hitter
Cody Gougler to load the bases, setting up a force play at every base. Machado continued to struggle with his control and walked
Ladd Rhodes, forcing in a run and setting up Fisher's at bat.
Senior right-hander
Joseph Koon picked up the win for Southeastern allowing two runs, both earned, on four hits in six innings of work. He fanned seven, including the first four batters he face, and walked only one. He then turned over the ball to the bullpen as
Layton Tromba,
Josh Janway,
Jason Greenleaf and
Stefan Lopez closed out the game.
“Our bullpen was fantastic,” Artigues said. “
Joseph Koon walked one batter and went deep into the game. If we can turn over a lead to the bullpen I feel real confident.”
The Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Indiana State starter and losing pitcher Dakota Bacus in the first inning. Hebert led off the inning with a single and moved to second when the shortstop couldn't cleanly handle a Hernandez grounder. A Slade single loaded the bases with no outs. A pair of ground balls by Pace and Gougler plated the runs.
Indiana State tied the game with single runs in the third and fifth innings off of Koon.
First pitch Saturday, for the second game of the three game series, has been pushed back to 6 p.m. as severe weather is expected to roll through the Northshore area overnight and into the afternoon. Game updates will be available on Twitter from @SLUathletics.
In a matchup of left-handed pitching, the Lions are slated to send former Freshman All-American
Jordan Hymel (4-2, 4.71 in 2011) to the mound against the Sycamore's Sean Manaea (5-5, 4.32 in 2011).
