Box Score



HAMMOND – A five-run fourth inning, enabled by a pair Louisiana-Lafayette errors, pushed Southeastern Louisiana to a 6-5 victory over the Ragin' Cajuns Wednesday.

The Lions (4-0) defeated UL-Lafayette for the eighth-straight game.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, designated hitter Cody Gougler walked with one out. After Ragin' Cajun starter Caleb Kellogg (0-1) walked Ladd Rhodes and Jacob Fisher, making it three consecutive free passes, ULL went to the bullpen for left-hander Jordan Harrison. Pinch-hitter Michael Rutland grounded to third. The throw came home, but the catcher couldn't make the grab and Gougler scored to tie the game.

Right fielder Alex Marse reached on a fielder's choice, erasing Rutland at second, but plating Rhodes for a 2-1 lead. Brock Hebert walked to load the bases once again for shortstop Ben Hernandez. Hernandez grounded to third, but an error allowed Fisher to score. Center fielder Harry Slade followed up with a single off the shortstop's glove plating the final two runs of the inning.

UL-Lafayette (1-3) answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Each team added single runs in the sixth inning and the Ragin' Cajuns added their final run in the top of the seventh.

The Southeastern bullpen turned in another strong effort as Layton Tromba, Dylan Hills (2-0), Josh Janway, Jason Greenleaf and Stefan Lopez combined to give up two runs (one earned) in 4.2 innings of work in relief of starter Kaleb Manuel. Making his first career start, Manuel allowed three runs in 4.1 innings.

Hills picked up the win for the second straight game and Lopez earned his second save of the season. Kellogg, also making his first career start, was tagged with the loss.

Hebert turned in a 2-for-4 night at the plate with a pair of doubles and Slade had three of the Lion's four RBI.

Southeastern will host Eastern Illinois in a three-game series that begins Friday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. as the Panthers return to Southeastern for the fourth time in the last five seasons.