Box Score

HAMMOND, La. – After rallying once to send the game to extra innings, Southeastern Louisiana's comeback attempt fell short Friday against Lamar in the Southland Conference opener at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

Lamar (13-6, 1-0 Southland) struck for a pair of runs in the 10th inning on Brandon Provost's two-run home run to left-center field off Dylan Hills (1-2), answering the pair of runs Southeastern (9-8, 0-1 Southland) scored in the ninth to tie the game, 3-3.

Cardinal right-hander Will Hibbs locked down Southeastern through eight innings, allowing one run on three hits before struggling in the ninth.

Kyle Cedotal reached on an single to start the ninth-inning rally and moved up on a walk to Jameson Fisher. After Hibbs fell behind 2-0 on Andrew Godbold, Lamar elected to bring in reliever J.T. Autrey (2-0). After Godbold popped up, Jesse Buratt produced a single to drive in Cedotal, putting runners on the corners. Fisher scored on a wild pitch.

Lamar took a 3-0 lead midway through the game with singles runs in the second, third and fifth innings. Southeastern broke through against Hibbs in the sixth. Cedotal walked and moved to third on Fisher's hit-and-run single to right. Cedotal eventually scored on a throwing error by the first baseman.

Autrey earned the win and Hills was saddled with the loss. Cardinal reliever Danny Fernandez earned his second save of the season by stranding a runner in the tenth.

Andro Cutura, who entered the game as one of just 23 pitchers nationally to open the season with four-consecutive quality starts, extended his streak by tossing six innings and allowing three runs.

With rain possibly rolling in late this weekend, Southeastern and Lamar will wrap up the series Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled for noon. The stadium will be cleared between games and season ticket holders will need to present the appropriate ticket for the third game of the series.


Lamar 5, Southeastern La. 3 (Mar 14, 2014 at Hammond, La.)
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Lamar....................... 011 010 000 2 -  5 12  1      (13-6, 1-0 SLC)
Southeastern La..... 000 001 002 0 -  3   5  1      (9-8, 0-1 SLC)
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Pitchers: Lamar – Hibbs, Will; Autrey, J.T. (9); Fernandez, Danny (10) and Eckols, Justin. Southeastern La. - Cutura, Andro; Pittari, Matt (7); Hills, Dylan (9) and Fisher, Jameson.

Win-J.T. Autrey (2-0)  Save-Danny Fernandez (2)  Loss-Hills, Dylan (1-2)  T-2:48  A-860
HR LU - Kevin Santana (1); Brandon Provost (1).
Weather: 65 Partly Cloudy, SSE 8 mph
Hibbs faced 2 batters in the 9th.