CONWAY, Ark. – An eight-run outburst by Central Arkansas in the third inning was too much for Southeastern Louisiana to overcome Thursday as the Lions fell, 13-5, in Southland Conference action at rain-soaked Bear Stadium.
Southeastern (36-16, 22-6 Southland), which has dropped three of its last four games, jumped out in front early, but was unable to shut down the Bear (26-25, 14-14 Southland) bats.
The Lions scored three runs in the first, and had Central Arkansas starter Cody Davenport on the ropes, before leaving the bases loaded in the second inning without scoring a run.
Drew Avans smacked a bases-loaded double in the first inning, driving in
Daniel Midyett and
Jameson Fisher, to put Southeastern up, 2-0.
Carson Crites scored on a ground out by right fielder
Webb Bobo, giving the Lions a 3-0 lead after a half inning.
After intentionally walking Fisher to load the bases in the second, Davenport worked out of the inning with a fielder's choice.
Fast forward to the third inning and Central Arkansas picked up three-consecutive hits to open up the inning. After a sacrifice bunt pushes a pair into scoring position, second baseman Chris Townsend lined a two-run single up the middle to tie the game.
After Townsend stole second base and advanced to third on a passed ball, he scored on a fielder's choice as the throw to the plate skipped to the plate.
Despite picking up an out on an overslide at second, the Lions were unable to wrap up the inning. Central Arkansas tacked on four more runs, sending 12 batters to the plate in the third.
The Bears added a pair of runs in the sixth on a two-run home run by left fielder Brandon Montalvo, his fourth of the season.
Southeastern got the runs back in the seventh, but the Bears added three more in the eighth to close out the scoring.
Davenport (5-2) earned the win, allowing all five Lion runs on nine hits in six innings of work. He walked four and fanned a pair. Connor Gilmore allowed one hit in three scoreless innings of relief to pick up the first save of his career.
Pat Cashman (4-4) suffered the loss. The senior right-hander allowed eight runs, just three earned, in 2.2 innings of work.
Fisher, who entered the game leading the nation in batting average and on-base percentage, pushed his average up to .457 with a 2-for-3 night at the plate. He reached base four times overall, after being hit by a pitch and drawing his 12th intentional walk of the season.
Avans and
Jacob Seward joined Fisher in picking up a pair of hits.
Sophomore right-hander
Mac Sceroler (9-3, 2.53) draws the starting assignment for Southeastern in the second game of the series opposite Bear right-hander Ty Tice (1-0, 3.18).
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 series through live statistics or by following SLUathletics on Twitter. Links for audio, video and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
Southeastern's magic number for clinching the regular season title, and No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming Southland Conference Baseball Tournament, is still two – any combination of Southeastern wins or Sam Houston State (34-19, 21-6 Southland) losses. The Bearkats were rained out Thursday and will play a doubleheader Friday at home against Houston Baptist.
Central Arkansas 13, Southeastern 5 (May 19, 2016 at Conway, Ark.)
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Southeastern........... 300 000 200 - 5 10 4 (36-16, 22-6 SLC)
Central Arkansas..... 008 002 03X - 13 14 0 (26-25, 14-14 SLC)
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Pitchers: Southeastern - Cashman, Pat; Von Rosenberg, Gabe (3); Graffeo, Carlo (8) and Eades, Chris. Central Arkansas - Davenport, Cody; Gilmore, Connor (7) and McCarty, Justin.
Win-Davenport, Cody (5-2) Save-Gilmore, Connor (1) Loss-Cashman, Pat (4-4) T-3:04 A-321
HR UCA - Montalvo, Brandon (4).
Davenport, C faced 2 batters in the 7th.
