HAMMOND, La. – Jackson State scored three runs in the final two innings Tuesday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field, pulling off its second comeback victory over Southeastern Louisiana in three weeks.
Southeastern (24-12) scored early, but failed to make it hold up.
Drew Avans, a senior from Alabaster, Alabama, made Jackson State (21-11) starting pitcher Richard Brow pay for hitting leadoff batter
Cody Grosse with a pitch by cranking his third home run in the last four games. Avans' team-leading seventh blast of the season put the Lions up 2-0 in the first.
The Tigers answered with a homer of their own in the second, a solo shot off the bat of Jesus Santana, cutting the lead in half.
Southeastern took advantage of more freebies in the second.
With one out,
Evan Pace drew a walk and
Brennan Breaud was hit by a pitch. The pair pulled off a double steal, putting a pair of runners in scoring position. Grosse plated Pace with a sacrifice fly to left field.
That was all the offense the Lions could muster, despite seven walks and three hit batters handed to them by Jackson State pitching.
Southeastern starting pitcher
Mason Knopp kept the Tiger hitters at bay until the eighth inning, when they tied up the game with a pair of runs.
A solo home run off reliever
Bryce Tassin (1-1) in the top of the ninth proved to be the game-winner for Jackson State.
Joes Tirado (2-1) earned the win, working a pair of scoreless innings to close out the game. Both of his wins this season have come against the Lions.
Tassin suffered the loss, allowing one run in 1.2 innings of work.
Avans (2-for-4) led the Lions at the plate.
Southeastern travels to Lafayette, Louisiana, Wednesday for its final non-conference road game of the regular season.
Cox Sports TV will broadcast the 6:30 p.m. game against UL Lafayette (16-17) from M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park. Viewers outside of CST's coverage area can watch the game on ESPN3.
The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM, and worldwide online or through either the Radio FX or TuneIn apps. Fans can also keep up with all the action through streaming video, live statistics or by following @SLUathletics on Twitter. Links to audio, video, stats, promotions and tickets are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
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