LAKE CHARLES, La. – Southeastern scored six unanswered runs over the second half of the game Friday, rallying to defeat McNeese State, 8-7, in Southland Conference action at Joe Miller Ballpark.
The wins helps Southeastern (27-12, 14-2 Southland) maintain its half-game lead over Sam Houston State atop the conference standings. It also evened the all-time series against McNeese (22-13, 12-7 Southland), 81-81.
Down, 7-2, after five innings and starter
Kyle Cedotal having been chased from the game, the Lions went to work on McNeese starter Kaleb Fontenot.
Right fielder
Ryan Byers led off the sixth with a walk. With two outs, and a 1-2 on third baseman
Derrick Mount, Byers stole second base. Mount then smacked a single through the right side on the next pitch, driving in Byers, and taking second on the throw.
Mount came home to score when shortstop
Brennan Breaud dumped an RBI single into left field, pulling the Lions within three, 7-4. Breaud's single chased Fontenot from the game.
First baseman
Jameson Fisher led off the seventh with a double to left-center off reliever Trent Fontenot. Second baseman
Carson Crites worked a walk, putting a pair on for left fielder
Drew Avans.
Avans beat out a sacrifice bunt attempt for an infield hit, loading the bases with no outs. After Fontenot struck out both Byers and catcher
Chris Eades,
Webb Bobo ripped a pinch-hit single to right. Fisher and Crites scored. As Avans hustled to third, the relay throw from the shortstop kicked out of play and allowed Avans to score with the tying run.
In the eighth, Crites lined a two-out single up the middle off reliever Ricky Ramirez. After the left-hander hit Avans with a pitch, Byers greeted reliever Collin Kober with an RBI single to center. Crites scored from second with the eventual game-winning run.
The five-run deficit could have been much greater for Southeastern as Byers turned a potential grand slam into a sacrifice fly, robbing Cowboy shortstop Will Fox of his first home run of the season in the fifth.
Reliever
Gabe Von Rosenberg (1-0) earned the win, working two scoreless innings in relief. The junior from Zachary, Louisiana, allowed one hit and one walk, fanning a pair.
Kade Granier tossed two scoreless innings to close out the game, earning his fifth save of the season.
Ramirez (0-1) was tagged with the loss, coming in from center field to face four batters in the eighth.
Avans, (2-for-4), Breaud (2-for-5) and Fisher (2-for-4) recorded multi-hit performances to pace the Lion comeback.
The series continues Saturday at 3 p.m. The game 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. Links for audio and stats can be found on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
Saturday the Lions will send sophomore right-hander
Mac Sceroler (6-2, 2.40) to the mound opposite McNeese freshman southpaw Bryan King (4-1, 3.06).
Southeastern 8, McNeese State 7 (Apr 22, 2016 at Lake Charles, La.)
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Southeastern.......... 000 112 310 - 8 11 2 (27-12, 14-2 SLC)
McNeese State....... 113 020 000 - 7 10 2 (22-13, 12-7 SLC)
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Pitchers: Southeastern - Cedotal, Kyle; Gaconi, Corey (5); Hurst, Cliff (5); Von Rosenberg, Gabe (6); Granier, Kade (8) and Eades, Chris. McNeese State - Fontenot, Kaleb; Fontenot, Trent (6); Ramirez, Ricky (8); Kober, Collin (8) and Toole, Cameron; Duhon, Dustin.
Win-Von Rosenberg, Gabe (1-0) Save-Granier, Kade (5) Loss-Ramirez, Ricky (0-1) T-3:19 A-983
Weather: 79; Partly Sunny; Wind: N9 MPH
Cedotal, K. faced 2 batters in the 5th.
