Box Score TROY, Ala. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team scored four unearned runs Saturday to fight off a pesky Hartford team, 5-3, at Riddle-Pace Field.
Junior right-hander
Sean Kennel, a native of Slidell, La., turned in another strong performance on the mound as the Lions struggled to score early.
Southeastern (9-4) scored two runs in the third inning on a sacrifice bunt to take a 2-1 lead over the Hawks.
Ladd Rhodes drew a lead-off walk, moved to second base on a
Brett Hoffman sacrifice bunt.
Ben Hernandez reached on a throwing error by Hartford shortstop Aaron Wilson, allowing Rhodes to take third, and when the Hawks left second unprotected Hernandez alertly grabbed the extra bag.
With a pair of runners in scoring position,
Jesse Buratt laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt for a suicide squeeze to plate Rhodes. Hernandez, also going on the squeeze play, scored all the way from second.
The Hawks tied the game in the sixth. Designated hitter James Alfonso singled to right leading off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. A slow roller back to the mound moved Alfonso to third and he scored on center fielder Chris DelDebbio's single up the middle.
Southeastern took the lead right back with a sixth-inning run and added a couple of insurance runs in the seventh.
Hartford scored a run in the ninth, the first given up by
Dylan Hills in six appearances this season.
Kennel (2-0) earned the win, as his ERA dropped to 1.57 in 28.2 innings pitched, while Hills picked up his team-leading fourth save. Hartford starter Kyle Gauthier (0-2) was tagged with the loss.
Right fielder
Harry Slade was 3-for-4, producing half of the Lions' six hits, and stole his seventh base of the season. He also picked up an assist as Southeastern nabbed Hartford's Brian Estevez trying to stretch a third-inning single into a double.
Southeastern takes on Hartford (0-10) again Sunday at 10 a.m. before facing host Troy (8-3) Sunday at 2 p.m.
Both games can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), on the internet through the Southeastern athletics website as well as on the KSLU iPhone and TuneIn Radio apps. Live stats, as well as a live video stream through LionVision, will be available for all three games of the series. Links to audio, stats and video are located on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
Freshman right-hander
Tate Scioneaux (2-0, 3.06) will throw for Southeastern in the Sunday morning game against Hartford. The Hawks have not named a starter for the contest, but lefty Ryan Lukach (0-1, 21.21) is a possibility.
Senior left-hander
Jordan Hymel (1-1, 4.70) draws the starting nod against Troy left-hander Shane McCain (2-0, 4.50).
Southeastern returns to Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field for a 6 p.m. game Tuesday against Tulane. The contest is the annual Pack the Pat game and fans are encouraged to wear gold.
Southeastern La. 5, Hartford 3 (Mar 9, 2013 at Troy, Ala.)
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Hartford.................... 100 001 001 - 3 10 3 (0-10)
Southeastern La..... 002 001 20X - 5 6 1 (9-4)
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Pitchers: Hartford - Gauthier; Murphy(7) and Walker. Southeastern La. - Kennel, Sean; Hills, Dylan(9) and Roberson, Sam.
Win-Kennel, Sean(2-0) Save-Hills, Dylan(4) Loss-Gauthier(0-2) T-2:13 A-125
Weather: P. Cloudy, 67, ESE 11 MPH
