Gold Rush split RRAC twin bill with Wildcats

NEW ORLEANS — Sophomore left-hander Joseph Semien produced his second consecutive stellar pitching performance to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 3-1 victory against Louisiana Christian in the opener of a Red River Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader Saturday at Wesley Barrow Stadium.

The Wildcats won the second game 7-1 and won the series two games to one.

Semien, the reigning RRAC Pitcher of the Week, allowed five hits, one earned run, walked two and struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings. Andre Beaudoin got the final out — on strikes against against Haydon Helms — with two runners on base to earn a save.

Deionte Norris’ groundout to shortstop scored D’Aires Davis in the first inning, then the Gold Rush tacked on two unearned runs in the fourth.

LCU led 1-0 through six innings of the second game, then the Wildcats clinched with two runs in the seventh inning and four in the eighth. Drake Angeron went 4-for-4, and Nick Brunet had three RBIs.

XULA is 6-3 overall and 1-2 in the RRAC. Louisiana Christian is 8-4 and 2-1.

Next for XULA: a three-game RRAC series against Huston-Tillotson in Austin, Texas. The first game will start at noon Friday, then the Gold Rush and Rams will play a noon Saturday doubleheader.