HAMMOND, La. – Mac Sceroler set the tone early, fanning a career-high 11 batters, and the Lion bats exploded for six runs in the fifth inning as No. 36-ranked Southeastern Louisiana defeated Hofstra, 11-1, in seven innings Saturday in day two action at the Tangi Tourism Baseball Classic.
Southeastern (1-0) had its season opener against No. 13-ranked UL Lafayette washed out Friday evening. That game has been rescheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. Fans attending Monday's rescheduled contest with UL Lafayette should use their ticket to Friday's originally scheduled contest to gain admittance.
After trading a couple of scoreless innings early, Lion first baseman
Scottie Sanders led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run to left field. The line-drive smash was the first of the redshirt sophomore's career.
Sceroler (1-0), a 36th-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies this past June, was spot on in his season debut. The right-hander from Denham Springs, Louisiana, allowed just one base runner to reach in his five innings of work.
In the fifth, Hofstra (0-1) first baseman David Leiderman reached off a wild pitch on strike three, but was thrown out attempting to steal second base.
Southeastern added some run support in the bottom of the inning.
Evan Pace, a sophomore catcher from Zachary, Louisiana, led off the inning with a walk. He advanced to third base when a grounder off the bat of
Jacob Seward kicked between the legs of Hofstra second baseman Tom Archer for an error. Seward stole second base.
After a fly out, second baseman
Carson Crites drew a walk to load the bases. Designated hitter
Daniel Wasinger, a junior from El Paso, Texas, ripped a two-run single to right field. Crites and Wasinger then pulled off a double steal, with Crites swiping home for a 4-0 Lion lead.
Senior right fielder
Webb Bobo drew another walk, putting a pair on in front of
Taylor Schwaner.
The junior from New Orleans, Louisiana, smashed a triple into the right-center field gap and he later scored on
Drew Avans RBI double to left field to put the Lions up, 7-0, after five.
Southeastern tacked on four additional runs in the sixth, highlighted by Schwaner's 2-run single.
Schwaner led the Lions at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance, driving in four and scoring twice.
Sceroler earned the win. Hofstra starter Chris Weiss suffered the loss, allowing three runs in four innings of work.
Derrick Mount, a senior right-hander from Saucier, Mississippi, worked the final two innings for Southeastern, allowing a solo home run in the sixth to Hofstra center fielder Vinnie Costello for the Pride's only run of the game.
GAME ONE – Murray State 2, UL Lafayette 0
Murray State (2-0) catcher Tyler Lawrence smacked a solo home run to left field with one out in the fourth, giving the Racers an early lead.
After another base hit, UL Lafayette (0-1) pitcher Gunner Leger hit a pair of batters before walking in a run.
Ryan Dills (1-0) scattered four hits in seven shutout innings of work to earn the win, walking one and fanning 10 batters.
Leger (0-1) allowed two runs on three hits in four innings of work, suffering the loss. He walked one and fanned five batters.
DAY THREE SCHEDULE – Tangi Tourism Baseball Classic
Sunday, February 19
1 p.m. – Murray State vs. No. 36-ranked Southeastern Louisiana
5 p.m. – Hofstra vs. No. 13-ranked UL Lafayette
Southeastern 11, Hofstra 1 (Feb 18, 2017 at Hammond, La.)
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Hofstra................. 000 001 0 - 1 3 3 (0-2)
Southeastern........ 001 064 X - 11 8 1 (1-0)
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Pitchers: Hofstra - Weiss, Chris; James, Michael (5); Brazill, Seamus (5) and Friscia, Vito. Southeastern - Sceroler, Mac; Mount, Derrick (6) and Pace, Evan.
Win-Sceroler, Mac (1-0) Loss-Weiss, Chris (0-1) T-2:26 A-1573
HR HOFSTRA - Costello, Vinnie.
HR SLU - Sanders, Scottie.
Weather: Partly Cloudy 69, SSE 4 mph
Weiss, C. faced 2 batters in the 5th.
