Box Score HAMMOND, La. – Sam Houston State left-hander Cody Dickson held down the Southeastern Louisiana bats Saturday as the Lions fell, 4-1, in a Southland Conference game at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
Dickson (8-4) limited Southeastern (30-20, 13-9 Southland) to two hits in seven shutout innings as the No. 28-ranked Bearkats maintained their grasp on first place in the conference. The Lions are now three games back with five games remaining in the regular season.
Southeastern starter
Andro Cutura (1-3) and Dickson hooked up in a pitcher's duel, carrying a scoreless ballgame through four. In the fifth, the Lions committed back-to-back errors and Sam Houston (32-17, 16-6 Southland) took advantage to score three unearned runs.
Luke Plucheck knocked a solo home run with one out in the sixth, his eighth of the season, to give the Bearkats a 4-0 lead.
The bullpen effort of
Matt Pittari,
Jason Greenleaf and
Sean Kennel held the Sam Houston bats at bay the remainder of the game, but the Lions could muster just a single run off a pair of Bearkat relievers.
Ladd Rhodes doubled to right with one out in the eighth, moving to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch.
In the ninth,
Sam Roberson and
Harry Slade produced back-to-back singles to open the inning and force Sam Houston to bring in closer Jason Simms to replace reliever Tyler Eppler.
Simms fanned the next three batters to wrap up the game and earn his eighth save of the season. Dickson earned the win while Cutura suffered the loss.
The series concludes Sunday with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m. Lion freshman right-hander
Tate Scioneaux (6-1, 3.55) draws junior left-hander Caleb Smith (6-4, 3.22) in the opener while neither team has announced a starting pitcher for the finale.
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field will be cleared between games of the doubleheader and fans will need separate tickets for admission. Sunday's tickets are good for the first game while Friday's tickets will be honored for the series finale.
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 (subscription required), will be available. Links to audio and stats are located on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net. Mobile links are available at www.LionSports.net/mobile.
Fans will have a chance to enjoy the Raising Cane's Challenge. If the Lions score five or more runs in the selected game, fans presenting their ticket stub (or student coupon), and purchasing a combo at a participating Raising Cane's, will receive a free combo of equal or lesser value (through the following day).
It is also Academy Family Sunday in the Park and Senior Day. Seven Lion seniors will be honored for their contributions to the baseball program in a ceremony prior to the game. Roomie's Kid Zone, sponsored by Academy Sports and Outdoors, will be open down the left-field line featuring a bounce house and other family-friendly activities.
Sam Houston State... 000 031 000 0 - 4 7 0 (32-17, 16-6 SLC)
Southeastern La........ 000 000 010 x - 1 5 3 (30-20, 13-9 SLC)
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Cody Dickson, Tyler Eppler (8), Jason Simms (9) and Anthony Azar.
Andro Cutura,
Matt Pittari (6),
Jason Greenleaf (6),
Sean Kennel (7) and
Sam Roberson.
W - Dickson (8-4). Sv. - Simms(8). L - Cutura (1-3). E - Hernandez (15), Buratt 2 (9). DP - SLU 2. LOB - SHSU 6; SLU 7. 2B - Burgess (7), Rhodes (6). HR - Plucheck (8). HBP - Slade. SB - Woods (1). CS - Hernandez (4). T - 2:49. A - 754.
