Box Score LAKE CHARLES, La. – Southeastern Louisiana scored eight runs in the 11th inning Friday at Cowboy Diamond, coming from behind to defeat McNeese State, 10-2, in Southland Conference play.
Southeastern (30-21, 15-10 Southland) and McNeese (27-22, 16-9 Southland) hooked up in a pitcher's duel for the first seven innings with Lion starter
Tate Scioneaux and Cowboy starter Kaleb Fontenot held their opponents scoreless.
The Lions broke through first, scoring a run in the eighth.
Daniel Midyett led off the inning with his third hit of the game, singling to right, and moved up to second on
Kennon Menard's bunt single.
Jacob Seward dropped an RBI bloop single into left-center field.
McNeese answered with a pair of runs off Scioneaux in the bottom of the inning to take the lead, 2-1, forcing the Lions to rally in the ninth to tie the game.
Reliever Steven O'Bryant walked
Andrew Godbold to lead off the inning and Southeastern head coach
Matt Riser sent
Corey Bryan in as a pinch runner.
Sam Roberson followed by ripping the ball into the right-center gap. Cowboy right fielder James Cantu got to the ball, but had it bounce off his glove for a two-base error.
Brett Hoffman drove in Bryan with a ground out to shortstop.
Southeastern reliever
Dylan Hills fanned the side in the ninth, forcing the game into extra innings.
Both teams put multiple runners on in the 10th, but neither could score.
The Lions loaded the bases in the 11th, with no outs, before finally breaking the stalemate. Roberson doubled to lead off the inning and went to third on Hoffman's single up the middle. Midyett drew a walk to load the bases.
Menard singled down the line, past the first baseman, driving in Roberson and Hoffman. The throw back from right nabbed Menard off the bag at first.
Kyle Cedotal then reached on a fielder's choice, but Midyett was thrown out at the plate for the second time in the game. Six straight Lions then reached safely before McNeese recorded the final out of the inning.
Jacob Williams walked. Seward singled up the middle to drive in Cedotal.
Jameson Fisher and
Ryan Byers walked (RBI). Roberson ripped the ball into the left-center gap, clearing the bases on a three-base error by the left fielder. Hoffman then singled to right to plate Roberson for the final run.
Daniel Midyett followed with a single up the middle, posting a four-hit game for the first time in his career.
Hills (4-3) picked up the win, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings in relief. Cole Prejean (5-4) was saddled with the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on four hits and three walks in 0.2 innings of work.
With the win, Southeastern gains a game on McNeese and Nicholls State, which dropped a 4-3 decision at Stephen F. Austin. Northwestern State, which came from behind to defeat New Orleans, moves into a three-way tie with the Cowboys and Colonels for third place.
Saturday, the Lions will send junior right-hander
Andro Cutura (8-2, 1.68) to the mound against McNeese' junior righty Michael Clemens (4-2, 5.26).
The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM, online and either the KSLU or TuneIn Radio smartphone apps. Fans can keep up with the contest through live statistics, courtesy McNeese, or by following SLUathletics on Twitter. Links for audio and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
Southeastern La. 10, McNeese 2 (May 09, 2014 at Lake Charles, La.)
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Southeastern La..... 000 000 011 08 - 10 12 0 (30-21, 15-10)
McNeese................ 000 000 020 00 - 2 10 2 (27-22, 16-9)
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Pitchers: Southeastern La. - Scioneaux, Tate; Pittari, Matt (8); Hills, Dylan (8); Pickett, Gage (11) and Fisher, Jameson. McNeese - Fontenot, Kaleb; O'Bryant, Steven (9); Prejean, Cole (11); Williams, Jacob (11) and Toole, Cameron; Peterson, Sam.
Win-Hills, Dylan (4-3) Loss-Prejean, Cole (5-4) T-3:26 A-302
Weather: Cloudy; 81 degrees
Scioneaux, T faced 2 batters in the 8th.
