Box Score

NATCHITOCHES, La. – Southeastern Louisiana scored a pair of runs in the eighth-inning Saturday as the Lions grabbed a scrappy, 4-2 win over Northwestern State.

The Lions tied the game at two apiece in the fourth, and lock-down pitching from Jordan Hymel, Dylan Hills (7-2) and Stefan Lopez held Northwestern State (16-25, 11-12 Southland) at bay for the remainder of the game.

Southeastern (29-15, 14-9 Southland) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. With one out, Cody Gougler was hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position on a ground out by Ladd Rhodes. Sam Roberson singled up the middle for his first collegiate RBI.

Northwestern State answered in the bottom of the second with a solo home run from first baseman Todd Wallace.

The Demons grabbed the lead in the third. Mitch Huckabay doubled to lead off the inning. He was sacrificed to third base and scored on a safety squeeze by Drew Helenihi.

Southeastern came right back to tie it in the fourth. Brock Hebert singled to lead off the inning and stole second, setting the school single-season record with his 32nd of the season. He moved over to third on Jonathan Pace's single. Gougler followed with a sacrifice fly to right field for his team-leading 35th RBI of the season.

Hymel yielded to Hills in the sixth and the sophomore from Ponchatoula tossed three shutout innings for the win. Lopez stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the ninth for his 15th save of the season. Lion pitching allowed five hits in the game.

Lopez needs two saves to tie the Southland Conference career record and three to tie the single-season record for saves.

Ben Hernandez led off the eighth inning with a rocket shot off the glove of the third baseman for a single. The Demons went to the pen for Joe Scanio for the second-consecutive game. Hebert greeted him with his third hit of the game.

With one away, Gougler drew a walk to load the bases and Rhodes was hit by a pitch to force in the eventual winning run. Roberson drew a walk to force in the second run of the inning and another Northwestern State trip to the bullpen.

With the win, head coach Jay Artigues ties former coach Pat Kenelly for second on Southeastern's all-time wins (230) list.

The rubber match, and series finale, is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday. Junior left-hander Buck Bernard (2-0, 2.06) will face Demon senior left-hander Colin Bear (3-5, 4.45).

The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and live statistics, courtesy Northwestern State, will be available at www.LionSports.net. Fans can also receive updates through Twitter by following @SLUathletics.

Line Score
Southeastern La 4, Northwestern State 2 (Apr 28, 2012 at Natchitoches, La.)
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Southeastern La....... 010 100 020  -  4  8  1      (29-15, 14-9 SLC)
Northwestern State.. 011 000 000  -  2  5  1      (16-25, 11-12 SLC)
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Pitchers: Southeastern La - Hymel; Hills (6); Lopez (9) and Roberson. Northwestern State - Roark; Bittle (7); Scanio (8); Clifton (8) and Purdy.

Win-Hills (7-2)  Save-Lopez (15)  Loss-Bittle (1-1)  T-2:32  A-417
E – Hernandez (10); Hinojos (8). DP - NSU 1. LOB - SLU 9; NSU 6. 2B – Wallace (1); Huckabay (3). HR - Wallace (2). HBP - Hebert; Gougler; Rhodes; Purdy. SH – Buckley (6). SF – Gougler (7). SB - Hebert 2(33); Marse (2); Sanford (1); Farmer (1).
Weather: Mostly cloudy, windy, warm
Bittle faced 1 batter in the 8th.