Box Score
HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana allowed three unearned runs in the final two innings Thursday and McNeese State came from behind to defeat the Lions, 8-6.
The Cowboys (24-26, 17-14 Southland) took a 5-0 lead after two, but SLU scored four runs in the fourth and a run in the fifth to tie the game.
Southeastern (34-19, 18-13 Southland) took the lead with a single run in the sixth. With two outs,
Alex Marse tied a career high with his second hit of the game. Marse moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on
Harry Slade's single.
After a rough first two innings, Lion starter
Andro Cutura settled down and retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced. Cutura allowed five runs, three earned, in seven innings of work.
Dylan Hills (8-4) relieved Cutura to start the eighth. The sophomore from Ponchatoula, La., walked Renny Weber to lead off the inning and then threw past first baseman
Jonathan Pace on a sacrifice bunt attempt by cleanup hitter Collin Todd. A sacrifice bunt by Nick Eubanks plated Weber and tied the game at six apiece.
In the ninth, McNeese State pinch hitter Taylor Drake doubled to center field. Pinch runner Skylar Barrentine took third when Andrew Guillotte popped a bunt over the head of Lion third baseman
Brett Hoffman. Drake scored when Hoffman's throw to third went down the left-field line. Guillotte would eventually score on a sac fly.
Tyler Parke (2-1) picked up the win, working the final 1.2 innings without allowing a run.
Southeastern maintains a hold on second place in the conference standings, but is just a single game in front of Texas State, Texas-Arlington and McNeese State. Texas State lost, 7-2, at Northwestern State Thursday, bringing the Lions' magic number to one. Southeastern can clinch the second seed in the conference tournament with a win.
The series with McNeese State continues Friday at 6 p.m. Friday is Heroes Night, with all military members in uniform admitted free. All current and former military, firefighters, police officers and medical personnel will receive $4 admission.
The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and live statistics will be available at www.LionSports.net. Fans can also keep up with the game on Twitter by following @SLUathletics.
Line Score
McNeese State....... 140 000 012 - 8 7 3 (24-26, 17-14 SLC)
Southeastern La..... 000 411 000 - 6 10 3 (34-19, 18-13 SLC)
Clemens, Brown (7), Erickson (8), Parke (8) and Henry. Cutura, Hills (8) and Fisher.
W - Parke (2-1). L - Hills (8-4). E - Sullivan (2), Klouser (24), Clemens (1), Hernandez (13), Hoffman (6), Hills (1). LOB - McNeese State 4, SLU 10. 2B - Henry (3), Drake (7), Pace (14), Hoffman (6). HBP - Slade, Hernandez, Gougler. SH - Todd (2), Eubanks (4), Sullivan (9), Guillotte (9). SF - Lloyd (3). SB - Hernandez (5), Hebert (36). T - 2:34. A - 1,048.
