SLU clinches series win at Lamar with 8-1 triumph

BEAUMONT, Texas – Southeastern Louisiana scored four runs in the first inning Saturday and never looked back, clinching the Southland Conference series with an 8-1 win over Lamar at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

Brennan Breaud and Cody Grosse produced back-to-back singles to open up the game for Southeastern (15-6, 4-1 Southland). Taylor Schwaner sacrificed both into scoring position and Drew Avans followed with a single through the right side to score both runners.

After Avans was caught stealing, Bryce Steckler reached on an infield single and Mike Taylor drew a walk. Following a double steal, Daniel Wasinger, a senior from El Paso, Texas, singled through the left side to score both runners.

Lamar (4-15, 0-5 Southland) scored its only run in the first. Philip Ingram drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second base. He advanced to third on an infield single and then scored on a sacrifice fly.

The walk was the only one issued in the game by Lion pitching.

Carlisle Koestler (4-0) limited the Cardinals to four hits through seven innings, striking out five on his way to earning the win. Peyton Lee allowed a lone single in his two scoreless innings, closing out the game.

Southeastern added to its lead with a pair of runs in both the fourth and ninth innings.

Kyle Schimpf was hit by a pitch leading off the fourth. After stealing second, he advanced to third on an infield single by Grosse and then scored when the throw from Lamar first baseman Robin Adames sailed down the left-field line. Grosse, who wound up at second base on the play, scored on Schwaner’s RBI single.

In the ninth, Trenon Trosclair drew a leadoff walk from reliever Marcus Olivarez. Grosse and Schwaner each produced one-out singles, loading the bases. With two outs, Steckler lined a single to center field to drive in Trosclair and Grosse.

The four runs in the first inning were as many runs as Lamar starting pitcher Noah Sills had given up all season, entering the game with a 0.74 ERA. He was charged with six runs, five earned, in his four-inning stint.

Southeastern cranked out double-digit hits for the third straight game, with Grosse (3-for-5), Schwaner (2-for-5), Steckler (2-for-5) and Trosclair (2-for-3) leading the way. Grosse has three hits in each of the first two games of the series.

Sunday at 1 p.m., the Lions will send redshirt junior righty Kade Granier (1-2, 4.63) to the mound in the series finale opposite Lamar junior southpaw Jason Blanchard (0-2, 1.86).

The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM, and worldwide online or through both the Radio FX and 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.

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