Box Score



HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana's Alex Marse hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to cap a two-run, ninth inning Sunday against Stephen F. Austin and lift SLU to the come-from-behind, 12-11 win. The Lions claimed the series from SFA after picking up a 4-3 win in the series opener.

Each team scored seven runs in an inning, the Lumberjacks turned a 5-4-3-2 triple play in the fifth inning and committed all three of their errors in the ninth. The lead changed five times in a wild series finale.

The Lions (33-16, 17-10 Southland) trailed 9-3 in the 6th inning before scoring seven runs to take a 10-9 lead after six. Jonathan Pace doubled to lead off the inning and Cody Gougler drew a walk.

SFA (19-28, 12-15 Southland) removed starting pitcher Colton Eubanks in favor of reliever Cody Priest. Southeastern greeted the new right-hander with three-consecutive singles by Ladd Rhodes, Jacob Fisher and Michael Rutland.

The Lumberjacks returned to the bullpen, but Cory Ochs threw six-consecutive out of the strike zone before being pulled.

Cass Ingvardsen, the fourth Lumberjack pitcher of the inning, surrendered a game-tying, two-run double to Harry Slade. Ben Hernandez sacrificed Slade to third and he scored on a Pace groundout to give the Lions the lead.

SFA tied the game in the seventh on a pinch-hit double and took the lead in the eighth. Hunter Dozier doubled to right off Stefan Lopez (1-1) leading off the inning and scored from third on Bobby Loveless' one-out single up the middle. Loveless had hits in eight of his final nine at bats of the series.

Down 11-10, Gougler hit a chopper to short leading off the ninth. Dozier's throw to first sailed down the first-base line and Gougler was able to avoid the tag. Rhodes squared for a sac bunt and pulled the bat back, instead grounding a ball to Michael Ruiz at second. Ruiz dove for the ball, mere feet from the bag, and tossed to Dozier. The shortstop bobbled the ball and both runners were safe.

Britt Gautreaux, celebrating his 21st birthday, pinch ran for Gougler and SFA went to the pen for closer Alex Moshier. Fisher greeted the right-hander with a sac bunt to first, but Loveless' throw to third went down the line allowing Gautreaux to score the tying run.

With runners at second and third, and no outs, Moshier intentionally walked Rutland to set up a force at every base. The Lumberjacks pulled the infield in, but Marse drove the ball to left-center for a sacrifice fly and the game-winning RBI.

Lopez picked up the win for Southeastern while Justin Choate (0-5) suffered the loss. Fisher (three hits), Rutland (two hits) and Marse (two RBIs) tied career highs.

Southeastern is three games behind league leader Sam Houston State and the two teams will play a three-game series beginning Friday in Huntsville, Texas.


Line Score
Stephen F. Austin... 007 011 110  - 11 14  3      (19-28, 12-15 SLC)
Southeastern La..... 012 007 002  - 12 13  1      (33-16, 17-10 SLC)
Eubanks, Priest (6), Ochs (6), Ingvardsen (6), Choate (7), Moshier (9) and Scarafiotti. Bernard, Rainey (3), Manuel (5), Pittari (7), Lopez (8) and Fisher. W - Lopez (1-1). L – Choate (0-5). E – Dozier 2 (9), Loveless (1), Rainey (4). DP - SFA 1, SLU 1. Triple plays - SFA 1. LOB - SFA 7, SLU 8. 2B – Dozier (17), Loveless (7), Lenaburg (1), Slade (9), Pace (12), Fisher (4). HR – C. Hernandez (2), Hebert (2). HBP – Cummings, Hernandez, Hebert, Fisher. SH – Scarafiotti (4), Myers (5), B. Hernandez (18), Fisher (6). SF – Myers (1), Marse (2). SB – Moreda (2), Dozier (6), Rutland (1). CS – Rhodes (7). T - 3:25. A – 872.