Lions drop series finale to Islanders

HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana scored in each of the first five innings Sunday, but it was not enough to overcome Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as the Islanders rolled to a 13-7 Southland Conference win in the series finale at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

The Lions (24-11, 11-4 Southland) started fast, producing three straight singles to open the bottom of the first. A one out walk to Daniel Wasinger pushed across the first run, tying the game. Bryce Steckler was hit by a pitch, forcing in the go-ahead run and chasing the Islanders starting pitcher from the game.

In the second, Southeastern added a pair of runs to extend its lead to 4-1 over A&M-Corpus Christi (17-16, 3-9 Southland).

The lead did not last long as Lion starting pitcher Kade Granier ran into some trouble in the third.

A&M-Corpus Christi sent 10 batters to the plate, against three Lion pitchers, scoring five runs to take a 6-4 lead.

Brennan Breaud drew a two-out walk in the third and then stole second base. Trey Harrington, a freshman from Lakeland, Tennessee, single to center field, driving in Breaud and pulling Southeastern within a run.

Drew Avans led off the fourth with a solo home run to right, his team-leading fifth of the season, to tie the game.

The Islanders responded with a pair of runs in the fifth to regain the lead, 8-6.

Evan Pace drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the inning off reliever A.G. Ayala, stealing both second and third. He scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Cody Grosse, pulling the Lions back within a run.

A&M-Corpus Christi pushed its lead back to two in the seventh. Third baseman Enrique Sanchez, Jr. led off the inning with a double to right-center. He scored when the next batter, center fielder Dalton Stark, tripled down the right-field line.

Southeastern had a chance tie the game in the eighth, leaving the bases loaded, but the Islanders put it out of reach with four more runs in the ninth.

Ayala (2-1), the third of four Islander pitchers, earned the win. The left-hander gave up one run in 2.1 innings and did not surrender a hit. Will Warren (0-1), the third of six pitchers for Southeastern, suffered the loss. He worked two innings, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk.

Avans (2-for-3), Grosse (2-for-3) and Kyle Schimpf (2-for-4) led the Lions at the plate. Avans also scored three runs.

Southeastern wraps up its five-game homestand Tuesday against Jackson State. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

TICKETS
Single game tickets for Lion home games can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets or by contacting the athletics ticket office at (985) 549-5466.

General Admission tickets are $9 for adults and $6 for children (ages 3-12). Tax is included in the price of admission. Southeastern students are admitted free with a valid university ID card.

Students, campus organizations and fans can earn points toward their Lion Up Loyalty account at any home game by checking in on the mobile app while in attendance.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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A&M-Corpus Christi 13, Southeastern 7
(Apr 08, 2018 at Hammond, La.)
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A&M-Corpus Christi.. 105 020 104 – 13 15 2 (17-16, 3-9)
Southeastern………….. 221 110 000 – 7 7 1 (24-11, 11-4)
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Pitchers: A&M-Corpus Christi – Owens, Jackson; Perez, Leonel (1); Ayala, A.G. (4); Bauer, Payton (6)
and Balfantz, Scott; Osborn, Drake. Southeastern – Granier, Kade; Robinson, Payton (3); Warren, Will (3); Nini, Jace (5); Lee, Peyton (7); Hileman, Evan (9) and Pace, Evan.

Win-Ayala, A.G. (2-1) Save-Bauer, Payton (1) Loss-Warren, Will (0-1) T-3:35 A-1102
HR SLU – Avans, Drew (5).
Weather: Cloudy 56, E 6 mph
Perez, L. faced 1 batter in the 4th.