Road Series Win Over UTSA is Huge for Lions

Going on the road and winning is never an easy task in the Southland Conference.  It is even tougher when you are trying to keep within striking distance of one of the hottest teams in college baseball in the conference race and there are four games separating numbers three through eight in the standings. 

But good pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting will surely be your friends.  And those friends got the Lions a huge series win over UTSA in San Antonio this weekend.  SLU won on Friday 5-2 and on Sunday 4-2.  The Roadrunners took the Saturday game 9-3.

With their two wins this weekend the Lions move to 28-13 on the season and 13-8 in the SLC.  SLU is tied for 2nd with Texas-Arlington in the standings, four games back of Sam Houston State.  The Lions hold the tie-breaker over UTA with their series sweep over the Mavericks in Hammond.  Texas State and McNeese State are two back of the Lions and Mavericks.  The road show continues this week for the Lions as they head to Baton Rouge to face LSU on Wednesday then travel up to Natchitoches to face SLC rival Northwestern State over the weekend.

In the three game series this weekend junior closer Stafan Lopez became the school's single season saves leader, picking up his 13th and 14th saves of the season.  Lopez, who is SLU's All-Time Saves leader, passed Chris Franklin who had 12 saves during the 2009 season.  Junior 2B Brock Hebert stole his 30th base of the season and is one steal away from the school's single season record of 31 held by Troy Melancon in 1992.  Also senior OF Cody Gougler notched his 200th career hit as a Lion, becoming only the 6th Lion to reach the 200 hit milestone.

Game 1
SLU     000 003 200 - 5 8 1
UTSA  100 000 100 - 2 4 3

WP - Andro Cutura (5-1)
LP - Casey Selsor (3-5)
Save - Stefan Lopez (13)

Top Hitters:
Brock Hebert 3-4, 2 RBI, Run, SB
Michael Rutland 2-5, RBI, 2 Runs

Game notes - With the save Stefan Lopez sets the SLU single season saves record with 13 saves, passing Chris Franklin (2009-10).

Game 2
SLU     201 000 000 - 3 12 2
UTSA  201 321 00X - 9 9 2

WP - Michael Kraft (7-3)
LP - Jordan Hymel (5-3)
Save - None

Top Hitters:
Cody Gougler 3-4, 2 2B. RBI,
Harry Slade 3-5, Run

Game 3
SLU     010 010 011 - 4 13 1
UTSA  002 000 000 - 2 7 1

WP - Dylan Hills (6-2)
LP - Logan Onda (0-2)
Save - Stefan Lopez (14)

Top Hitters:
Ben Hernandez 3-3, RBI, Run, HBP
Cody Gougler 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, Run
Harry Slade 2-5, RBI