Box score

MOBILE, Ala. – Southeastern Louisiana rallied to score four runs in the final three innings to knock off University of South Alabama baseball 6-4 Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field in the final game of the 26th Annual South Alabama Classic.

The Lions tied the game in the top of the eighth inning on Britt Gautreaux’s grounder to shortstop that scored Cody Gougler from third base. Southeastern Louisiana (6-1) took a 5-4 lead one batter later when Brock Hebert singled to left field to score Justin Cryer, who doubled earlier in the frame.

SLU added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning to close the scoring in the game.

Cass Hargis went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and one run scored to pace the Lions at the plate. Jonathan Pace and Hebert added two hits and an RBI each, and Jeff Harkensee also recorded two hits in the game.

South Alabama right fielder Nolan Earley went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored to lead the Jaguar offense. Jeff DeBlieux added two hits and an RBI, Logan Kirkland recorded two hits and Brad Hook added a double and two RBI in the contest.

SLU right-hander Dylan Hills (1-0) earned the win in 1/3 of an inning in relief. Stefan Lopez earned the save, his second of the season, in two shutout innings and recorded one strikeout without allowing a hit.

USA right-hander Jake LeBlanc (0-1) suffered the loss in 1 1/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs on three hits.

South Alabama right-hander Dustin Crenshaw scattered seven hits over a career-high seven innings, and allowed four runs while striking out three without factoring in the decision.

“I thought Dustin (Crenshaw) threw outstanding,” South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell said. “They (Southeastern Louisiana) are a good hitting team. But he kept them off-balance and just did a tremendous job.”

South Alabama broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning with three runs on four hits. Brent Tanner and Earley started the rally with consecutive singles to lead off the inning. Hook then doubled to right-center field to give the Jags a 1-0 lead. USA shortstop Jerry Roam followed with a sacrifice fly to right center to score Earley to push the Jaguar lead to 2-0. DeBlieux then followed with an RBI single to shortstop that scored Hook and extended the South Alabama lead to 3-0.

The Lions answered to cut the Jaguar lead to 3-1 in the top of the third inning on Hargis’ RBI single to center field. SLU cut the USA lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth when Pace doubled down the right field line to score Trey Martin from second base.

South Alabama doubled its lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning on Hook’s sacrifice fly to center field that scored Earley who doubled earlier in the inning.

But the Lions tacked on runs in the game’s final three innings for a come-from-behind win to capture the 26th Annual South Alabama Classic championship.

SLU shortstop Justin Boudreaux was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

“We still have a ways to go,” Kittrell said. “It’s still early and we have a lot of new guys in here who are still trying to learn our system. As coaches, we’ve learned some things about our team and have seen some things we need to work on. I think we have room to grow, but we need to get there as soon as possible.”

South Alabama (5-2) will return to action Tue., March 1, when it travels to Thibodaux, La., for a midweek matchup against Nicholls State at 6 p.m. at Ray E. Didier Field.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

-USA-

NOTES:  With the loss, South Alabama falls to 38-11 all-time against Southeastern Louisiana … The Jaguars fell to 39-26 in the South Alabama Classic … Kirkland extended his hitting streak to seven games, and recorded his third multiple-hit game of the season … Kirkland has hit safely in every game of his career at South Alabama … Earley and DeBlieux each recorded their third multiple-hit games of the season … Jake Overstreet started his 160th consecutive game at third base … Hook recorded his second multiple-RBI game of the season … Crenshaw has not issued a walk in 15 1/3 innings this season.