Lions grind out win in series opener at McNeese

HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana took advantage of 10 walks issued by McNeese pitching, grinding out a 5-4 win Thursday in the opening game of a Southland Conference series at Joe Miller Ballpark.

In his first conference start of the season, Corey Gaconi combined with a pair of relievers to corral the Cowboy (9-16, 6-4 Southland) offense.

The Lions (20-9, 8-2 Southland) constant offensive pressure wore on the first three McNeese pitchers. Southeastern left 14 runners on base, including the bases loaded three times, but did not go down in order until the ninth. Four of Southeastern’s five runs were scored with two outs.

Cody Grosse led off the game with a single, stole second and later scored on Kyle Schimpf’s RBI double that dropped in down the right-field line.

McNeese tied the game in the bottom of the first. Reid Bouque led off with an infield single. After he was sacrificed to second, Bourque scored on Shane Selman’s RBI triple to left-center field.

Southeastern regained the lead in the third and never relinquished it.

Brennan Breaud, a junior from Norco, Louisiana, knocked a two-out single up the middle and then stole second base. Evan Pace, a junior from Zachary, Louisiana, drew the first of his three walks in the game, putting a pair on. Third baseman Trey Harrington brought them both home with a double into the gap in left-center.

An inning later, the Cowboys pulled within a run on a solo home run by center fielder Jacob Stracner. The shot to left-center was his third homer of the season.

The Lions got the run back, however, in their next turn at the plate.

Breaud and Pace drew back-to-back walks. After Breaud was picked off, Grosse pulled a two-out pitch down the right-field line for an RBI double.

Southeastern added an important insurance run in the eighth.

Avans drew a leadoff walk, also his third of the game, and later scored on Taylor Schwaner’s two-out double into the gap in left-center.

Gaconi, who stranded a runner in scoring position in the third, was the recipient of some stellar defense.

Following the solo home run in the fourth, catcher Dustin Duhon ripped a double to left. When the next batter hit a ball in the left-center field gap, Duhon was doubled off the bag after Trenon Trosclair chased down the ball and hurled a rope back to second.

In the sixth, with one out and runners at second and third, Stracner hit a comebacker to Gaconi. The runner at third base broke for the plate and Gaconi’s threw home to start a rundown. Pace chased the runner, Jake Cochran, back to third, tossing to Harrington at the last second. Harrington tagged Cochran out and then turned to tag out Shane Selman who was trying to advance from second while Cochran was in the rundown.

After Gaconi issued his first walks of the game to back-to-back hitters in the seventh, Southeastern head coach Matt Riser brought in reliever Trey Shaffer to record the final out of the inning.

When Shaffer ran into a bit of trouble in the eighth, allowing an RBI double that put a pair of runners in scoring position, Riser went to the bullpen for Jared Biddy.

The junior from Iowa Park, Texas, got a groundout, but the runner on third scored to pull the Cowboys within a run once again. After issuing a walk, Biddy got a fly ball to end the inning.

Southeastern went down in order in the ninth, but Biddy was up to the task of closing out the game. The right-hander fanned the side in the bottom of the ninth to seal the victory.

Gaconi (2-1), who struck out a career-high nine batters, earned the win. The junior from Metairie, Louisiana, allowed a pair of runs on seven hits and a pair of walks in 6.2 innings. Biddy, who worked the final 1.2 innings, earned his second save.

Grant Anderson (2-3), the first of four McNeese hurlers, suffered the loss. He allowed three runs on six hits and four walks in four innings. He struck out four.

Grosse (3-for-5) and Schimpf (2-for-4) led the Lions at the plate. Avans (3), Pace (3) and Breaud (2) each drew multiple walks.

The series continues Friday at 6 p.m. with the Lions sending senior right-hander Josh Green (4-1, 3.53) to the mound opposite McNeese junior southpaw Bryan King (1-1, 5.24).

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 and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.

DIAMOND CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the baseball program are encouraged to join Diamond Club. All membership fees and donations to the Diamond Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern baseball program.

For membership information, contact the Lion Athletics Association at (985) 549-5091.

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Southeastern 5, McNeese 4
(Mar 29, 2018 at Lake Charles, La.)
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Southeastern…….. 102 010 010 – 5 9 0 (20-9, 8-2 SLC)
McNeese………….. 100 100 020 – 4 8 1 (9-16, 6-4 SLC)
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Pitchers: Southeastern – Gaconi, Corey; Shaffer, Trey (7); Biddy, Jared (8) and Pace, Evan. McNeese – Anderson, Grant; Ueckert, Cayne (5); McLemore, Peyton (7); Anderson, Aidan (9) and Duhon, Dustin.

Win-Gaconi, Corey (2-1) Save-Biddy, Jared (2) Loss-Anderson, Grant (2-3) T-3:08 A-792
HR MCN – Stracner, Jacob (3).
Weather: Mostly Clear, SSW 5-10, 70 deg