Box score
HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana used an eight-run seventh inning to defeat the University of South Alabama baseball team 13-8 Tuesday at Alumni Field.
After South Alabama cut the Lion lead to 5-2 in the top of the seventh, SLU loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom-half of the seventh on a leadoff double by Cass Hargis, a walk by Britt Gautreaux and hit by pitch by Cody Gougler. The Lions then scored consecutive runs on a walk by Jacob Fisher and hit by pitch by Brock Hebert to push their lead to 7-2. USL added to its lead on a two-run single by Jeff Harkensee and a two-run double by Josh Cryer later in the inning to take an 11-2 lead. The Lions added two more runs in the inning, aided by an RBI single by Gautreaux, to take a 13-2 lead.
South Alabama (14-14) scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning on five hits, aided by a two-run single by Brad Hook and RBI singles by Jerry Roam, Logan Kirkland Corey Bryan and Hunt Griffith.
SLU left-hander Jordan Hymel (3-2) earned the win in five innings pitched, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout and one walk.
Jaguar right-hander Carlton Paris (1-3) suffered the loss in four innings pitched, allowing three runs, none of which were earned, on five hits while striking out two and issuing three walks.
All nine Southeastern Louisiana starters recorded hits in the game, led by Harkensee who went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Hebert went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Hargis finished 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored.
Hook reached in all five of his plate appearances, and finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBI and two walks. Roam went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Kirkland, Griffith, Bryan and Jeff DeBlieux added a hit and RBI apiece for South Alabama.
The Lions opened up a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth, aided by two Jaguar errors. SLU scored the game’s first run when Britt Gautreaux scored on a throwing error at third base by USA catcher Brent Tanner. The Lions doubled their lead to 2-0 when Cody Gougler scored on Jacob Fisher’s groundout to shortstop. Southeastern added its final run of the inning on an RBI double by Justin Boudreaux.
USA cut the SLU lead to 3-1 in the top of the fifth inning when DeBlieux’s single hit off of Lion starter Hymel and rolled into left field, allowing Hook to score from second base after he drew a one-out walk earlier in the inning.
The Lions extended their lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning on RBI singles by Gougler and Fisher.
South Alabama cut the USL lead to 5-2 in the top of the seventh inning when Earley drew a bases-loaded walk. Tanner followed and hit a fly ball to deep right-center field that Gautreaux caught at the base of the wall to end the Jaguar scoring threat. The Jags loaded the bases in the inning on singles by Hook, Roam and White.
SLU (20-10) then answered with its eight-run seventh inning to take a 13-2 lead after seven complete innings, before South Alabama rallied for six runs in the top of the ninth.
South Alabama will return to action this weekend when it hosts Florida Atlantic in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Stanky Field, beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
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: Hook extended his hitting streak to nine games and reached base in all five plate appearances, and has now reached base in 11 consecutive appearances at the plate … Kirkland extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a single in the ninth inning … Griffith collected his first RBI as a Jaguar … Bryan also collected his first RBI as a Jaguar … Patterson hit safely in his fifth consecutive game … With the loss, South Alabama fell to 38-12 all-time against Southeastern Louisiana and 15-8 all-time in Hammond.
