HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Lousiana snapped its longest losing streak in almost two seasons Saturday, pounding No. 22-ranked UL Lafayette, 16-5, at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field to split the weekend series at one game apiece.
The Lions (26-10) rebounded from being one-hit in the series opener, ending their three-game losing streak. Southeastern pounded out 12 hits, as many as it had combined during the stretch.
Second baseman
Carson Crites put the Lions up in the first inning with a two-run double over the center fielder's head.
Southeastern added a run in the second to go up, 3-0. Shortstop
Brennan Breaud singled up the middle and then stole second base. He scored on
Daniel Midyett's RBI single to right field.
Right fielder
Ryan Byers, a junior from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, smashed the first of his two home runs in the game with a pair on in the third, putting the Lions up, 6-0, over UL Lafayette (23-12).
Ragin' Cajun first baseman Stefan Trosclair launched a solo home run leading off the fourth, but Southeastern answered with a solo home run to the opposite field off the bat of
Jameson Fisher in the fifth.
UL Lafayette scored a pair of runs in the sixth, cutting the Lions lead to 7-3, but Southeastern responded with its second three-spot of the game.
With runners at second and third, and one out,
Jacob Seward scored from third when Ragin' Cajun catcher Nick Thurman threw down to first base to complete a strikeout of Midyett. Crites tacked on the other two runs with a single up the middle, plating Breaud and Fisher for a 10-3 lead.
The Ragin' Cajuns added single runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, but both times Southeastern responded with three more runs. A two-run triple by third baseman
Taylor Schwaner highlighted the Lion runs in the seventh and Byers smacked a two-run, opposite field homer in the eighth.
Southeastern scored in every inning except the fourth.
Breaud (3-for-5), Crites (3-for-5), Byers (2-for-3) and Fisher (2-for-3) each enjoyed multi-hit games. Byers drove in five and Crites plated four to pace the Southeastern offensive attack.
Center fielder
Jacob Seward was 0-for-3 in the game, but scored a pair of runs and made two highlight-reel catches. The second grab turned into a double play, helping reliever
Payton Robinson work out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam he inherited in the seventh.
Mac Sceroler (6-2), a sophomore right-hander from Denham Springs, Louisiana, earned the win after fanning six in 5.2 innings of work. Wyatt Marks (3-4) was tagged with the loss, surrendering six runs in 2.1 innings as the starter.
Senior southpaw
Domenick Carlini (4-1, 1.40) draws the starting nod for Southeastern in Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale against Ragin' Cajun freshman right-hander Nick Lee (5-1, 2.68).
The series finale against the Ragin' Cajuns can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM, online and through the TuneIn Radio app (search for KSLU). Fans can also keep up with the games through live statistics or by following SLUathletics on Twitter.
Sunday's game will be televised by Cox Sports Television (Charter 324 / 815 HD). Outside CST's viewing area, the game is available on ESPN3, WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app. ESPN3 is also available on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast and Roku. Links for audio, video, stats, a gameday promotions schedule and tickets can be found on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
As part of Sunday's Family Day, young Lion fans can stand with their favorite Southeastern baseball player during the national anthem and run the bases after the game. Sunday will also feature a Cane's Challenge. If the Lions score four runs or more, fans can bring their game tickets or student coupons to any participating Raising Cane's to receive a free combo with the purchase of another item of equal or greater value.
Tickets for Sunday's game can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets or by contacting the athletics ticket office at (985) 549-5466 or 1-866-LION-TIX. Ticket office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Fridays. The box office at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field opens one hour prior to the scheduled first pitch.
A limited number of Right Field Box Seats are available for $15 dollars and include access to a picnic table. General Admission tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children (ages 3-12) for all individual Lion home games.
Southeastern students are admitted free with a valid university ID card. Students and campus organizations can earn points toward their new Lion Up Loyalty account at any home game by checking in on the mobile app while in attendance.
Southeastern 16, UL Lafayette 5 (Apr 16, 2016 at Hammond, La.)
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UL Lafayette........... 000 102 110 - 5 12 1 (23-12)
Southeastern......... 213 013 33X - 16 12 2 (26-10)
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Pitchers: UL Lafayette - Marks, Wyatt; Huval, Jevin (3); Bacon, Will (5); Bazar, Reagan (6); Zaunbrecher, Nick (8); Charpentier, Chris (8) and Thurman, Nick. Southeastern - Sceroler, Mac; Hurst, Cliff (6); Robinson, Payton (7); Von Rosenberg, Gabe (9) and Eades, Chris.
Win-Sceroler, Mac (6-2) Loss-Marks, Wyatt (3-4) T-3:13 A-1776
HR UL - Trosclair, Stefan.
HR SLU - Fisher, Jameson; Byers, Ryan 2.
Weather: Cloudy 70, E 12 mph
Hurst, C. faced 3 batters in the 7th.
