Box Score

HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team defeated Nicholls State, 10-9, Saturday to complete a sweep of the three-game Southland Conference series.

Southeastern (21-8, 6-0 Southland) maintains a one-game lead over McNeese State after starting 6-0 in conference play for the first time in school history.

Both pitching staffs constantly worked out of trouble. Nicholls State (14-15, 1-4 Southland) loaded the bases in five separate innings, stranding 16 runners. Colonel pitching walked nine batters and hit a pair.

The Lions scored three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, building a 7-1 lead.

Nicholls shortstop Leo Vargas committed a pair of errors on consecutive ground balls by Jameson Fisher and Sam Roberson. Jesse Buratt drew a walk and the Lions loaded the bases with one out in the fourth. Gabe Woods drew a two out walk to force in Fisher and then Colonel reliever Zach Thiac hit Ladd Rhodes to force in Roberson. Ben Hernandez drew another walk as Southeastern scored its three runs without a hit.

With two out in the fifth, Roberson was hit by a pitch. Buratt drew a walk and Brett Hoffman singled up the middle to drive home Roberson. Woods drew his second walk of the game and the Lions sent in Kyle Cedotal to pinch run. Colonel reliever Kelby Langston, replacing Jacob Rodrigue, threw a wild pitch that allowed Buratt to score. Rhodes followed with a single to plate Hoffman for the third run.

The Colonels answered with four runs in the sixth, chasing Lion starter Jordan Hymel (4-2) and reliever John Gremillion. Kaleb Manuel quieted the bats until the ninth while Southeastern tacked on some much needed insurance runs.

Nicholls scored four more runs in the ninth off Manuel and Mason Klotz before Dylan Hills retired the final two batters to earn his seventh save of the season.

Hymel earned the win and Colonel starter Taylor Byrd (4-2) suffered the loss.

Southeastern returns to action at 6:05 p.m. Tuesday at the University of Alabama.


Nicholls State........... 000 104 004 –   9 15 2   (14-15, 1-5 SLC)
Southeastern La...... 001 331 11x – 10   8 1   (21-8, 6-0 SLC)

Byrd, Thiac (4), Rodrigue (4), Langston (5), Jackson (6) and Dufrene. Hymel, Gremillion (6), Manuel (6), Klotz (9), Hills (9) and Roberson. W – Hymel (4-2). Sv. – Hills (7). L – Byrd (4-2). E – Vargas 2 (9); Hoffman (2). DP – NSU 1; SLU 1. LOB – NSU 16, SLU 9. 2B – Stevens 2 (6), Barba (5). HR – Dufrene (2), Barba (1), Fisher (2). HBP - Vargas, Rhodes, Roberson. SH – Vargas (6). SF – Duplantis (1). SB – Haag 2 (5). CS – Hernandez (1). T - 3:07. A – 1,049.