Box Score

Box Score

HAMMOND – Freshman Brock Hebert extended his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games with a two-run home run in the sixth inning and Chris Franklin shut down UT Arlington over the final five innings as No. 22-ranked Southeastern Louisiana posted a 6-0 victory to claim the Southland Conference series Sunday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

Justin Boudreaux broke out of a 1-for-10 slump with three hits and Southeastern (26-7, 10-5 SLC) earned its second shutout of the season and first since a 2-0 win over UTSA on March 13.

Franklin (4-3) came in for freshman Jordan Hymel with no outs in the fifth inning and held UTA (15-17, 8-7 SLC) to two hits the rest of the way. The All-American reliever fanned five batters and walked one – UTA's Michael Choice for his school-record eighth intentional walk of the season and 13th of his career – in the fifth inning.

Southeastern (No. 22 Collegiate Baseball, No. 22 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, No. 24 USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll) broke open a scoreless contest in the fourth inning without the benefit of a hit. With one out in the inning, UTA starter Logan Bawcom (2-3) hit Joe Sparacino and Hebert on pitches before uncorking a wild pitch to move the runners into scoring position.

Chris Ernest then hit a high-chopper to third that allowed Sparacino to score and give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

The Lions padded their lead in the sixth beginning with a leadoff single by Cody Gougler. After Bawcom fanned Sparacino for the first out, Hebert belted his second home run of the season when he connected on a 3-and-2 pitch and put Southeastern ahead 3-0.

Southeastern, which collected 10 hits, added three more runs in the eighth off UTA relievers Garrett Laird and Mark Picca. Gougler led off the inning with a walk and moved to third on Sparacino's single to center field. Hebert then laced a single to left field to score Gougler and give the Lions a 4-0 lead.

Trey Martin then attempted a sacrifice bunt, which got past the southpaw Picca and through the left side of the infield for an RBI single that scored pinch-runner James Abraham all the way from second.

Cass Hargis later singled through the right side that drove in Martin for a 6-0 lead.

Hebert went 2-for-3 for the Lions and capped an impressive weekend going 9-for-12 in the series with one home run and six RBI.

Southeastern will continue its season-high eight-game homestand beginning Tuesday against Alcorn State in a 6 p.m. contest. The Lions will host Alabama on Wednesday at 7 p.m. before facing Southland Conference leader Texas State in a three-game series beginning Friday.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or on-line at www.LionSports.net.

UT Arlington........ 000 000 000 - 0 6 1 (15-17, 8-7 SLC)
Southeastern La..... 000 102 03x - 6 10 0 (26-7, 10-5 SLC)
Bawcom, Laird (8), Picca (8) and Comer. Hymel, Franklin (5) and Gough-Fortenberry. W – Franklin (4-3). L – Bawcom (2-3). E – Bawcom (2). DP - UTA 1. LOB - UTA 9, SLU 7. 2B – Choice (6), Nephew (7), J. Boudreaux (9). HR – Hebert (2). HBP - Payne, Dyvig, Sparacino, Hebert, Cryer. SH – Mabra (1), Cryer (7). SB – J. Boudreaux (13). CS – Nephew (1). T - 2:30. A – 728.