McNeese State eliminated by Southeastern Louisiana in Southland Conference Tournament

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (May 28, 2016) The No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana Lions extended their season and advanced to the championship game of the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament with a 4-1 win over the No. 6 McNeese State Cowboys on Saturday, May 28, 2016. The game was the first matchup of the day at Constellation Field in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land, Texas.

The Lions got on the scoreboard early in the game with single runs in both the first and second innings. Left fielder Ryan Byers connected on his first pitch for a double down the right field line. The hit sent leadoff batter Jacob Seward home from third base. The center fielder got on base with a hit on a 2-1 pitch down the right field line; his fourth triple of the season. The RBI was Byers’ 29^th for 2016. Their second run occured when shortstop Brennan Breaud singled through the left side, scoring designated hitter Daniel Midyett from third base.

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved

Over the next five innings, little action occurred until Cowboy second baseman Joe Provenzano, on a 1-1 pitch, sent the ball to deep center field for a stand up triple, his second of the season. It was the first hot for McNeese in the game. Matt Gallier was next to bat when starter Domenick Carlini sailed a wild pitch past catcher Sam Robertson, allowing Provenzano to advance to home for McNeese’s only run of the game. When Gallier drew a walk to place the tying run on base, Lion head coach Matt Riser decided Carlini was done. He brought in right handed reliever Josh Green to complete the inning.

The Lion one-run difference would be short lived as Robertson tattooed an 0-1 pitch over the awing covering the party deck in left field for his first home run of the season. The round tripper gave the Lions a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning. They added an insurance run later in the inning when Seward grounded out to second base, allowing third baseman Derrick Mount to score from third base. The Lions will next face the winner of the Sam Houston versus Stephen F. Austin matchup in the tournament final on Sunday, May 29, 2016 with a 12 noon scheduled first pitch.