Box Score



THIBODAUX – Southeastern Louisiana scored four runs in the eighth inning to complete a 5-3 come-from-behind Southland Conference victory Sunday over Nicholls State.

The Lions (11-5, 1-2 Southland) sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning, as Southeastern battered the Colonel bullpen for the second time in three games.

Brock Hebert drew a walk to open the eighth and Jonathan Pace followed with a single up the middle. With Cody Gougler attempting to lay down a sacrifice bunt, Hebert and Pace executed a double steal. Gougler then singled to score Hebert. The Lions then sent in Alex Marse to pinch run for Gougler.

The Colonels (9-7, 2-1 Southland) pulled their starting pitcher, Mike Wisecarver, in favor of Brad Delatte. Ladd Rhodes immediately tested Delatte, laying down a sacrifice bunt back to the mound. The left-hander's throw home went to the backstop and Pace scored to tie the game.

Jacob Fisher laid down another sacrifice bunt, pushing Marse and Rhodes both into scoring position with one out. Freshman Brett Hoffman grounded out to second base allowing Marse to score the eventual winning run.

Nicholls went back to the bullpen for freshman right-hander Merrick Ardoin, but he walked Ben Hernandez and Harry Slade back-to-back to load the bases. Once again the Colonels went to the pen, but the Nicholls State shortstop mishandled a Michael Rutland grounder allowing Rhodes to score the Lions' final run.

Stefan Lopez pitched the final two innings, fanning four, en route to earning his fifth save of the season. Dylan Hills (4-1) earned the win in relief of starting pitcher Josh Janway. Despite allowing just one run through the first seven innings, Wisecarver (0-2) was charged with the loss.

The Lions fell behind twice in the game, but strong pitching by Janway and the bullpen kept the deficit within reach.

Nicholls took the early lead with a single run in the third and the Lions tied it with a run in the sixth. The Colonels scored two in the seventh to take a short-lived 3-1 lead.

Southeastern hosts Mississippi State in a pair of games Tuesday and Wednesday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. Tuesday is Lion Proud, Lion Loud Night with noisemakers being handed out. Wednesday night there will be post-game fireworks. Both games start at 6 p.m.

Fans interested in purchasing tickets in advance are encouraged to call the Southeastern Athletics ticket office at (985) 549-5466. More information is available at www.LionSports.net.


Line Score

Southeastern La 5, Nicholls State 3 (Mar 11, 2012 at Thibodaux, La.)
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Southeastern La.... 000 001 040  -  5  9  1      (11-5, 1-2 SLC)
Nicholls State........ 001 000 200  -  3  8  4      (9-7, 2-1 SLC)
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Pitchers: Southeastern La - Janway, Josh; Hills, Dylan(7); Lopez, Stefan(8) and Fisher, Jacob. Nicholls State - Wisecarver, Mike; Delatte, Brad(8); Ardoin, Merrick(8); White, Donnie(8) and Weibel, Evan; Dufrene, Cody.

Win-Hills, Dylan(4-1)  Save-Lopez, Stefan(5)  Loss-Wisecarver, Mike(0-2)  T-2:30  A-307
E - Hernandez, B; Lyons, P.; Bergeron, B.; Flores, A.; Delatte, B.. DP - Nicholls 1. LOB - SLU 11; Nicholls 6. 3B - Barba, M.. HBP - Hernandez, B. SH - Marse, A; Fisher, J; Zorn, D.. SB - Hebert, B 3; Pace, J; Hernandez, B; Barba, M.; Lyons, P..
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny
Wisecarver,M faced 3 batters in the 8th.
Ardoin, M. faced 2 batters in the 8th.