Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SUGAR LAND, Texas – Central Arkansas freshman pitcher Connor Gilmore spun a 2-hit gem Saturday in the Southland Conference Tournament championship game as Southeastern Louisiana fell to the Bears, 4-0, at Constellation Field.

Southeastern (36-24) split a pair of games on the tournament's final day, advancing to meet Central Arkansas (39-20) on the strength of a 7-2 win earlier in the day over Lamar (39-20).

“I feel really bad for our kids,” coach Jay Artigues said. “They are a great group of kids and fun to coach…They (seniors) are some class kids and they did a great job leading. We have a lot young kids, true freshmen and those seniors did a good job of showing them how to lead.”

For the second-consecutive season, the Lions fought their way into the championship game. After defeating Lamar and No. 27-ranked Sam Houston State in its first two games, a decisive Lamar victory forced Southeastern into a play-in rematch the day of the championship game.

“We got back to the championship (game) again, but that makes it hurt even more,” Artigues said. “We got the experience of it and we have to keep fighting and break over that hump.”

First baseman Jameson Fisher and left fielder Ladd Rhodes represented the Lions on the all-tournament team. Fisher hit .222 with three runs scored, RBI's and hit-by-pitches. Fisher tied Jesse Buratt for the most RBIs by a Lion in the tournament. Rhodes led all Southeastern starters with a .356 average in five games, scoring three runs while also driving in one and picking up one stolen base.

The winner of the Southland tournament is the league's automatic qualifier for the NCAA tournament, which begins with regional play, May 31-June 3. The selection show airs Monday at 11 a.m., CDT, on ESPNU.

Southeastern La. 7, Lamar 2
In the Lions' first game of the day, right-hander Sean Kennel (6-3) was up to the task of facing a team that put up double-digit runs the night before.

Kennel and Cardinal pitcher Hunter Perry (0-2) matched each other through five innings as each team scored single runs in both the second and fifth.

Southeastern broke the game open with three runs in the sixth, forcing Lamar to dig into its taxed bullpen, and tacked on two more in the seventh.

Battling uncharacteristic wildness, Kennel worked out of jams by limiting the Cardinals to three hits and getting ground ball after ground ball. The Lion defense turned four double plays in support of the junior from Slidell, La.

“Sean (Kennel) did a great job,” Artigues said. “That's what I like about our pitching depth. Even though we were in the loser's bracket, Sean did a great job. He was fresh. It's hard to have a fresh guy at this time at the tournament and we did.”

Kennel earned the win and Perry suffered the loss, his second of the tournament to Southeastern.

Southeastern La. 7, Lamar 2 (May 25, 2013 at Sugar Land, Texas)
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Lamar....................... 010 010 000  -  2    5  2      (39-20)
Southeastern La..... 010 013 20X  -  7 11  0      (36-23)
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Pitchers: Lamar – Perry, Hunter; Autrey, J.T. (6); Moore, Travis (6); Coram, Ben (7) and Luevanos, Zach. Southeastern La. - Kennel, Sean; Hills, Dylan (8) and Roberson, Sam.

Win-Kennel, Sean (6-3)  Loss-Perry, Hunter (0-2)  T-2:46  A-0
Weather: 83F, Cloudy, SE 8 mph
Autrey, J.T. faced 3 batters in the 6th.


Central Arkansas 4, Southeastern La. 0
Central Arkansas garnered all the offensive support Gilmore would need in the third, needing just one hit to push across three runs.

Gilmore, who had thrown just 19 innings all season, walked four and struck out two in earning his first win against a Southland Conference team.

“First, you have to give credit to Central Ark(ansas),” Artigues said. “They did a tremendous job, (Connor) Gilmore was really good on the mound tonight. I can tell you that he didn't pitch like a freshman, he pitched with a lot of maturity and he pounded the strike zone and let his defense work. You have to tip your hat to him.”

The two-hitter was the second in as many games against the Lions for a Central Arkansas pitcher. Bryce Biggerstaff tossed a two-hit, complete game, May 5, as the Bears avoided a sweep of the regular-season series with a 3-1 win.

Central Arkansas 4, Southeastern La. 0 (May 25, 2013 at Sugar Land, Texas)
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Southeastern La..... 000 000 000  -  0  2  0      (36-24)
Central Arkansas.... 003 000 10X  -  4  7  1      (39-20)
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Pitchers: Southeastern La. - Manuel, Kaleb; Klotz, Mason (3) and Roberson, Sam. Central Arkansas – Gilmore, Connor and Marietta, Michael.

Win-Gilmore, Connor (4-0)  Loss-Manuel, Kaleb (4-5)  T-2:33  A-942
Weather: 83F, Cloudy, SE 17 mph
Manuel, K faced 3 batters in the 3rd.


Southland Conference All-Tournament Team
MVP Forrestt Allday, Central Arkansas
C Michael Marietta, Central Arkansas
1B Jameson Fisher, Southeastern Louisiana
2B V.J. Bunner, Lamar
3B Garrett Brown, Central Arkansas
SS Sam Bumpers, Lamar
OF Logan Domenico, Oral Roberts
OF Ladd Rhodes, Southeastern Louisiana
DH Seth Dornak, Lamar
P Jonathan Dziedzic, Lamar
P Connor Gilmore, Central Arkansas