ARLINGTON, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana baseball team rebounded from a tough pair of games with a 10-4 non-conference win Saturday over fellow Southland Conference foe Houston Baptist at the UTA Hilton Invitational.

Southeastern (5-2) had dropped its last two games coming into Saturday's contest, including its first game of the tournament. HBU (4-2) looked to continue the string, scoring an unearned run in the first inning.

Lion starting pitcher Jake Johnson (2-0) walked the right fielder Thomas Clay to open the game. Following a throwing error by shortstop Carson Crites, Clay scored on a ground out by HBU third baseman Curtis Jones.

The Lions responded with three runs in the bottom half of the first. Huskies' starting pitcher Brandon Hammerly (1-1) issued back-to-back two-out walks to Daniel Midyett and Kevin Carr. Crites singled up the middle, driving in Midyett to tie the game. Carr took third base, and Crites followed him into second, after HBU center fielder Zach Nehrir misplayed the ball. Ryan Byers singled up the middle to drive in both Carr and Crites.

Southeastern added an unearned run in the fourth. Catcher Nico Cuccia reached on a one-out fielding error by HBU shortstop Louie Payetta, one of his three miscues in the game. After moving up to second on a ground out, pinch hitter Brooks Morse singled Cuccia to third. Cuccia would swipe home as part of a delayed double steal attempt.

The Lions scored six more runs in the seventh, the final three crossing the plate on a home run of the bat of Cuccia. It was the first collegiate homer for the freshman from Slidell, Louisiana.

Johnson earned the win, scattering one unearned run and three hits over seven innings of work. The junior from Salina, Oklahoma, walked three and fanned a pair of batters. Hammerly was tagged with the loss.

Byers, Crites, Midyett and Julian Service each picked up a pair of hits. Byers joined Cuccia in plating three runs. Crites drove in a pair.

Southeastern's final game of the tournament, against Michigan State (2-2), has been moved up an hour because of impending bad weather in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. First pitch against the Spartans is now scheduled for Sunday at 10 a.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark.

Junior left-hander Kyle Cedotal (1-0, 1.29) draws the starting nod for Southeastern against Michigan State left-hander Anthony Misiewicz (0-0, 0.00).

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 tournament through live statistics 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, Houston Baptist 4 (Feb 21, 2015 at Arlington, Texas)
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Houston Baptist...... 100 000 021 -   4  7  5 (4-2)
Southeastern La..... 300 100 60X - 10 12  2 (5-2)
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Pitchers: Houston Baptist - Hammerly, Brandon; Alvarez, Andrew (5); Toal, Brody (7) and Wiggins, Samm. Southeastern La. - Johnson, Jake; Granier, Kade (8) and Cuccia, Nico.

Win-Johnson, Jake (2-0) Loss-Hammerly, Brandon (1-1) T-2:25 A-196
HR SLU - Cuccia, Nico (1).
Weather: 50 deg. NNW 14mph. Cloudy


UTA HILTON INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday (2/20/15)
11 a.m. Michigan State (1) vs. Houston Baptist (3)
3 p.m. Southeastern Louisiana (0) at UT Arlington (7)

Saturday (2/21/15)
11 a.m. Houston Baptist (4) vs. Southeastern Louisiana (10)
3 p.m. Michigan State at UT Arlington
6:30 p.m. Houston Baptist at UT Arlington

Sunday (2/22/15)
10 a.m. Southeastern Louisiana vs. Michigan State