Box Score

HAMMOND, La. – Breaking a string of four-unanswered runs by Tennessee-Martin, the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team broke open a tie game Friday with an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning and held on for the win in its season opener.

The Lions (1-0) scored the game's first four runs in the bottom of the second. Sophomore catcher Sam Roberson hit his first collegiate home run with one out, plating Southeastern's first run.

Ben Hernandez and Ladd Rhodes each followed Roberson's solo shot with singles. A groundout by Alex Marse moved both runners into scoring position for leadoff hitter Corey Bryan. The junior transfer singled to left, driving in both runners, and swiped second on the throw to the plate. He later scored on a throwing error by UT-Martin (0-1) starter Dan Tobik.

The Skyhawks tied the game with a pair of two-run innings. Shortstop Sonny Mastromatteo led off the third with a infield single, advancing to second on an errant pickoff throw, and scored on a double by third baseman Matt Haynes.

Southeastern starter Jordan Hymel fanned catcher Ben Brewer, but leadoff hitter Grant Glasser doubled in Haynes to cut the Lion lead in half.

In the fifth Haynes walked, moved to second on a sacrifice, took third on a single by Glasser and scored on a sacrifice bunt by designated hitter Matt Young. Glasser eventually scored to tie the game at four apiece.

Bryan led off the Lion sixth reaching on an error by the shortstop. Prairieville, La., native Jesse Buratt followed with a single, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. Southeastern regained the lead for good as right fielder Harry Slade drove in Bryan with a slow-rolling fielder's choice grounder to second.

Freshman reliever Mason Klotz (1-0) picked up win for the Lions, retiring the final two batters in the sixth before yielding to Dylan Hills. Hills worked the game's final three innings, without allowing a run, to earn his first save of the season. UT-Martin's Carter Smith (0-1) snagged the loss in relief of Tobik.

Game two of the series is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday. Live stats, as well as a live video stream through LionVision, will be available on the Southeastern athletics website. Links to the stats and video are located on the baseball schedule page at  www.LionSports.net.

Junior right-hander Sean Kennel is slated to receive the start on the mound for the Lions and will be opposed by sophomore left-hander Taylor Cox for UT-Martin.


Southeastern La. 5, UT-Martin 4 (Feb 15, 2013 at Hammond, La.)
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UT-Martin................. 002 020 000   -  4   8  2      (0-1)
Southeastern La..... 040 001 00X  -  5 11  3      (1-0)
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Pitchers: UTM - Tobik, Dan; Smith, Carter(5); Ross, Chris(6) and Brewer, Ben. SLU - Hymel, Jordan; Cutura, Andro(6); Klotz, Mason(6); Hills, Dylan(7) and Roberson, Sam.
Win-Klotz, Mason(1-0)  Save-Hills, Dylan(1)  Loss-SMITH, Carter(0-1)  T-2:58  A-850
HR SLU - Roberson, Sam.
Hymel, J faced 1 batter in the 6th.