Box Score

CONWAY, Ark. – Southeastern Louisiana scored early and often Saturday, defeating Central Arkansas, 9-4, for the Lions' first Southland Conference Baseball Tournament championship.

The Lion bats provided six runs through the first two innings, but the key to Southeastern's win was the pitching of sophomore Tate Scioneaux. Working on one day's rest, after shutting down Sam Houston State for 5.2 innings Thursday afternoon, Scioneaux, who was named Tournament MVP, tossed 5.1 scoreless innings in relief to earn his first save of the season.
Southeastern, which was making its third-straight appearance in the tournament championship game, clinched its first NCAA regional appearance since 1994.

"First, that Central Arkansas ball club is tough," Southeastern head coach Matt Riser said. "It looked like we were going to run away with it, but they put the pressure on and put the pressure on, but it was a fantastic job by Tate coming in and finishing it off. The kids gave it everything they had because they wanted it. This is the ultimate goal. It was a motivating force for us with the last few years being runner up."

Southeastern (37-23) knocked Central Arkansas starting pitcher Bryce Biggerstaff (7-6) out of the game in the second, scoring four runs after two outs in the inning.

Jacob Seward beat out a grounder to shortstop to keep the inning alive. Jameson Fisher ripped a single to right field before Biggerstaff hit Andrew Godbold with a pitch to load the bases. Brett Hoffman dropped a two-run single into left-center, plating Seward and Fisher. Godbold stopped at third and Hoffman took second on the throw home. Daniel Midyett followed with another two-run single. Following Sam Roberson's single the Bears went to the bullpen.

Reliever Bo Stitch entered the game and momentum slowly started to shift the way of Central Arkansas (32-22). The right-hander retired the first 11 batters he faced and the Bears started chipping away at Southeastern's early lead.

The Bears took advantage of Southeastern errors in the second and fourth innings, pushing across a pair of unearned runs in each frame to claw within 6-4. Starter Andro Cutura surrendered a pair of unearned runs in two innings of work. Central Arkansas also reached Jason Greenleaf (1-0) for a pair of unearned runs in his 1.2 innings pitched.

Scioneaux entered the game with the two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth. After walking the first batter he faced the right-hander from Reserve, Louisiana, struck out Bear right fielder Trey Langley to end the inning. From the fifth through ninth innings, Scioneaux retired 12 consecutive batters and allowed the Lions to grab the game's momentum back.

"He came to me last night and said, "Coach, I want the baseball at some point in time tomorrow. I know we are going with Andro, but I feel great and I am ready to go. So if you get the chance to give it to me, I want it.'," Riser said. "You could hear it was definitely from the heart. It wasn't just coach speech or player speech, it was a true genuine 'I want the baseball.' And you saw it when he went in there and shut the door."

Southeastern scored a run in the sixth, extending its lead to 7-4. Jacob Williams ripped a bouncing ball off the shoulder of Central Arkansas third baseman Nate Ferrell for a single and was able to move up to second when the ball bounced out of play. Fisher ripped a two-out single up the middle to drive in Williams.

The Lions added their final two runs with two outs in the eighth. Seward produced his third single of the game, going first-to-third on Fisher's single to right. After Fisher stole second, Godbold laced a two-run single to right-center.

Greenleaf (1-0) earned the win for the Lions while Biggerstaff (7-6) was tagged with the loss.

Scioneaux earned the save for his 5.1 innings and was joined on the All-Tournament Team were Fisher, Godbold and Seward.

The 16 regional hosts will be shown on the BottomLine of the ESPN Networks, at approximately 8 p.m. (CT) on Sunday, as well on Twitter (@NCAACWS) and Facebook (NCAACWS).

The NCAA Division Baseball Championship Selection / Road To Omaha Show, with regional pairings and top eight national seeds, will be air on ESPNU at 11 a.m. (CT), Monday.

2014 Southland Conference Baseball All-Tournament Team
MVP Tate Scioneaux, Southeastern Louisiana
OF Jacob Seward, Southeastern Louisiana
C Jameson Fisher, Southeastern Louisiana
OF Andrew Godbold, Southeastern Louisiana
P Connor McClain, Central Arkansas
OF Doug Votolato, Central Arkansas
OF Nate Ferrell, Central Arkansas
2B Chris Townsend, Central Arkansas
P Steven Spann, Northwestern State
SS Sam Bumpers, Lamar
OF Andrew Guillotte, McNeese State
DH Nick Heath, Northwestern State

Southeastern La. 9, Central Arkansas 4 (May 24, 2014 at Conway, Ark.)
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Southeastern La...... 240 001 020 - 9 13 3 (37-23)
Central Arkansas.... 020 200 000 - 4 10 1 (32-22)
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Pitchers: Southeastern La. - Cutura, Andro; Greenleaf, Jason (3); Scioneaux, Tate (4) and Fisher, Jameson. Central Arkansas - Biggerstaff; Stitch, B. (2); McClain, C. (7); Markel, J. (9) and Deckard, C..

Win-Greenleaf, Jason (1-0) Save-Scioneaux, Tate (1) Loss-Biggerstaff (7-6) T-2:58 A-1007
Weather: 88 deg, sunny, 4-10 mph
Stitch, B. faced 1 batter in the 7th.