Lions Drop SLC Series to Nicholls State

It wasn't the opening Southland Conference series the Lions were looking for as they dropped two out of three games to in-state rival Nicholls State.  However, in this young season we have learned something about the 2012 team.  When their backs are against the wall they respond.

Being a young team with lots of new guys in the lineup they will be inconsistent until they mature and play the game at the speed coach Jay Artigues expects his teams to play.  But they do play hard and bounce back from adversity.  Which is the making of a good team.  You know the old saying, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger".   Well with 10 conference weekends left the Lions aren't dead.

Over the three game series SLU out hit the Colonels 34-27 and Lion pitchers recorded 29 strike outs.  In game one, which Nicholls won 10-9, the Lions put up five runs on nine hits on the SLC preseason Pitcher of the Year Seth Webster.  SLU pitchers also fanned 10 Colonels.  However, Nicholls capitalized on eight walks and four errors by the Lions.

Game two saw the Lions play clean in the field with no errors and Jordan Hymel struck out a career high 10 batters, but the timely hit bug hit SLU once again.  The Lions stranded 11 base runners as the Colonels wrapped up the series with a 4-2 victory.  On Sunday the Lions used a four run 8th inning where they batted around the lineup to salvage the series winning 5-3.  On the season SLU is now 11-5 overall and 1-3 in the SLC.
   
Game 1
Southeastern  300 200 040 - 9 14 4
Nicholls St     023 020 30X - 10 12 2

WP - Seth Webster (2-2)
LP - Kaleb Manuel (0-2)
Save - Jordan McCoy (4)

Top Hitters:
Ladd Rhodes 4-5, RBI, SB, Run
Brock Hebert 3-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 SB, Run
Harry Slade 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 Runs

Game 2
Nicholls St    200 002 000 - 4 7 0
Southeastern 000 100 010 - 2 11 0

WP - Patrick Shreve (2-2)
LP - Jordan Hymel (2-1)
Save - Jordan McCoy (5)

Top Hitters:
Cody Gougler 2-4, 2B, HR, RBI, Run
Ladd Rhodes 2-4, RBI
Brock Hebert 2-5, 2B, SB
Michael Rutland 2-5

Game 3
Southeastern  000 001 040 - 5 9 1
Nicholls St     001 000 200 - 3 8 4

WP - Dylan Hills (4-1)
LP - Mike Wisecarver (0-2)
Save - Stefan Lopez (5)

Top Hitters
Jonathan Pace 3-5, RBI, Run
Brock Hebert 2-4, BB, 3 SB, 2 Runs