Box Score

HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana baseball team's rally from a six-run deficit fell just short in a 9-8 loss to Sacred Heart Saturday night at Alumni Field.

The Lions fell to 6-3 overall with the loss. Sacred Heart improved to 3-1 on the year with a win in the opener of a four-game series.

Southeastern had the winning runs come to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but Sacred Heart reliever MJ Schifano retired Lions Joe Sparacino and Cass Hargis for his first save of the season.

Jason Greenleaf (0-1) took the loss for the Lions, allowing five runs in relief of Lion starter Brandon Efferson. Lion Josh Janway struck out nine Pioneers in 5.1 innings of relief in his 2011 debut.

Troy Scribner (2-0) picked up the win for SHU. After a shaky first two innings, he pitched five solid innings, striking out five and allowing five hits. Mike Korevec also threw 2.1 innings of strong relief, before giving way to Schifano for the final two outs.

Jeff Harkensee led the Lions at the plate with a 3-for-5, four-RBI performance. Schifano and Steve Tedesco each had three of Sacred Heart's 15 hits.

Sacred Heart jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Tedesco led off the game with a double and scored on a John Murphy groundout.

The Lions took their first lead in the bottom of the first inning. Harkensee's two-run double gave the Lions a 2-1 lead. Southeastern added another run in the bottom of the second inning, as Trey Martin singled home a run for a 3-1 Lion lead.

After tying the game with two runs in the third, Sacred Heart took the lead for good with a five-run fourth inning. Tedesco, JJ Edwards, Rob Griffith all knocked in runs and Derick Horn capped the scoring with a two-run double to chase Greenleaf. An error by Cody Gougler led to another run for SHU in the sixth and a 9-3 lead.

Southeastern began its rally in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Chris Dionisio walked the bases loaded. Justin Boudreaux followed with a two-run single and then Harkensee singled home two more runs to cut the lead to 9-7.

With Janway striking out five of the last six he faced, the Lions had one more chance in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Lions loaded the bases with one out, as Gougler and Britt Gautreaux were each hit and Brock Hebert drew a walk to end Korevec's day. Schifano moved to the mound from third and forced Sparacino to ground out with a run coming home. Hargis was the last hope for the Lions, but grounded out to short to end the game.

The series continues on Sunday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader. Sunday's games will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net.