LAKE CHARLES, La. – Three Southeastern Louisiana pitchers combined on a 6-hit shutout Saturday, defeating McNeese State, 4-0, in Southland Conference action at Joe Miller Ballpark.
The shutout, the Lions' seventh of the season, helps Southeastern (28-12, 15-2 Southland) maintain a half-game lead over Sam Houston State atop the conference standings. It also gives the Lions an 82-81 advantage in the all-time series against McNeese (22-14, 12-8 Southland).
Southeastern jumped out in front early, pushing across a run in the top of the first inning.
Shortstop
Brennan Breaud, a freshman from Norco, Louisiana, beat out an infield single to lead off the game. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Breaud moved to third on
Ryan Byers' ground out to first base.
First baseman
Jameson Fisher, a redshirt junior from Zachary, Louisiana, ripped an RBI single up the middle to drive in Breaud for the lead.
In the second, designated hitter
Drew Avans singled to open up the inning. After right fielder
Webb Bobo drew a walk, catcher
Sam Roberson sacrificed both runners into scoring position.
Avans scored on center fielder
Jacob Seward's ground out to second and Bobo scored after
Derrick Mount's chopper to third was mishandled.
The Lions tacked on an unearned run in the seventh.
Seward and Mount knocked back-to-back, one-out singles. Seward was thrown out at third on the front end of a double steal attempt. With two outs, Breaud rolled a dribbler up the first-base line.
McNeese catcher Cameron Toole threw off his front foot and the ball sailed over the first baseman's head and down the line, allowing Mount to score.
Southeastern starting pitcher
Mac Sceroler (7-2) combined with Avans and
Kade Granier to make the lead stand up.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Cowboys tried to string together a two-out rally. Designated hitter Todd Hinkley single up the middle off Sceroler and shortstop Will Fox drew a walk.
After left-handed hitter Jake Cochran pinch hit for Toole, Southeastern head coach
Matt Riser countered with Avans out of the bullpen. McNeese head coach Justin Hill then sent right-handed hitter Austin Nelson up instead to face the southpaw.
During Nelson's plate appearance, Roberson picked Fox off first base to end the inning.
Sceroler earned the win, scattering six hits over 6.2 innings. The sophomore from Denham Springs, Louisiana, walked one and fanned five. Avans worked 1.1 hitless innings, walking three. Granier earned his sixth save, and second of the series, fanning a pair and stranding a pair of inherited runners in the ninth.
McNeese starter Bryan King (4-2) suffered the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) in 3.1 innings of work.
Fisher (2-for-4) and Mount (2-for-3) led the Lions at the plate.
Southeastern, which improved to 8-1 against the Cowboys under head coach
Matt Riser, will wrap up the series Sunday at 1 p.m. Senior lefty
Domenick Carlini (4-1, 1.76) draws the starting nod for the Lions against McNeese senior right-hander Ethan Stremmel (3-1, 4.42).
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.
Southeastern 4, McNeese State 0 (Apr 23, 2016 at Lake Charles, La.)
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Southeastern.......... 120 000 100 - 4 7 0 (28-12, 15-2 SLC)
McNeese State....... 000 000 000 - 0 6 2 (22-14, 12-8 SLC)
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Pitchers: Southeastern - Sceroler, Mac; Avans, Drew (7); Granier, Kade (9) and Roberson, Sam. McNeese State - King, Bryan; Kingsley, Bryce (4) and Toole, Cameron; Duhon, Dustin.
Win-Sceroler, Mac (7-2) Save-Granier, Kade (6) Loss-King, Bryan (4-2) T-2:36 A-836
Weather: 81; Sunny & Warm; Wind: NE7
Avans, D. faced 2 batters in the 9th.
