HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana scored a pair of runs in the first inning Saturday and never looked back, defeating ULM, 8-2, at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
Third baseman
Derrick Mount ripped a double inside the left-field line for his first hit as a Lion, driving in
Jacob Seward who had walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning for Southeastern (2-0). The junior from Saucier, Mississippi, later came around to score on
Julian Service's 1-out, RBI single through the left side.
One day after a pitcher's duel the Lions left little doubt what personality the game would take, tacking on four more runs in the second to chase ULM (0-2) starting and losing pitcher Josh Leone (0-1).
The first four Lions hit safely to open the second. Second baseman
Taylor Schwaner singled to center field. The sophomore from New Orleans, Louisiana, scored all the way from first as left fielder
Ryan Byers ripped an RBI double into the right-center field gap.
Shortstop
Kennon Menard singled up the middle, putting runners on the corners. Seward, a junior from New Orleans, dropped an RBI single into left to plate Byers. Menard, a junior from Lafayette, Louisiana, would later come home to score on
Daniel Midyett's sacrifice fly to chase Leone.
Right-hander
Mac Sceroler (1-0), buoyed by the early run support, settled in against the Warhawks and scattered three hits over his 6-inning stint. The sophomore from Denham Springs, Louisiana, walked three and fanned six, earning the win in the first start of his collegiate career.
ULM broke through with two outs in the fifth on a solo home run by second baseman Anthony Herrera, but the Lions answered with a solo bomb of their own. Byers, a junior from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, deposited a shot deep over the wall in left-center in the bottom half of the inning for his second RBI of the game.
Both teams added single runs in the seventh to complete the scoring.
Freshman left-hander
Payton Robinson and sophomore righty
Josh Green combined to work the final three innings for Southeastern.
Five Lions, including Byers, Mount, Schwaner, Service and Seward, recorded a pair of hits.
Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale is Family Day. Roomie's Kid Zone will be open down the left-field line featuring a bounce house and other family-friendly activities. Kid's are welcome to join the Lions on the field for the national anthem Sunday and to run the bases after the game.
Students and campus organizations can also earn points toward their new Lion Up Loyalty account just by checking-in on the mobile app while in attendance.
Senior southpaw
Domenick Carlini (1-0, 6.38 in 2015) draws the starting nod for Southeastern against Warhawk right-hander Brandon Bell (4-5, 3.95 in 2015).
Fans can keep up with the game through live statistics or by following SLUathletics on Twitter. Streaming video is also available on LionVision, Southeastern's subscription-based video stream. Links for video, stats and tickets are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
The box office at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field opens one hour prior to the scheduled first pitch.
Southeastern La. 8, UL Monroe 2 (Feb 20, 2016 at Hammond, La.)
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UL Monroe............... 000 010 100 - 2 5 1 (0-2)
Southeastern La..... 240 010 10X - 8 14 2 (2-0)
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Pitchers: UL Monroe - Leone, Josh; Coddou, Payton (2); Reeves, Matthew (4); Schwaner, Tyler (4); Auger, Trey (6); Cater, Chase (7); Bradford, Keller (8) and Todd, Dalton. Southeastern La. - Sceroler, Mac; Robinson, Payton (7); Green, Josh (8) and Roberson, Sam; Eades, Chris.
Win-Sceroler, Mac (1-0) Loss-Leone, Josh (0-1) T-2:44 A-1203
HR ULM - Herrera, Anthony (1).
HR SLU - Byers, Ryan (1).
Weather: 77 Cloudy, S 9 mph
