Southeastern Louisiana Eliminates UTSA with 5-4 Victory in Record 12 Innings
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas ? Ross Barbier scored the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning to give Southeastern Louisiana a 5-4 victory over UTSA Friday to stay alive in the Southland Conference Tournament at Whataburger Field.
With one out and runners at first and second, designated hitter Brian McCants’ sent a ground ball to second. UTSA second baseman Gilbert Saenz tossed the ball to shortstop Marshal Davis to get the out at second, but Davis could not hold on to the ball, allowing Barbier to score the winning run. McCants reached on a fielder’s choice.
With the win, Southeastern, as the No. 2 seed, will face Sam Houston State in Friday’s third game. The Lions need to beat the Bearkats twice to reach Saturday’s championship game.
No. 3 seed UTSA (32-24) struck first with a solo home run by Jose Hernandez in the fourth. It was his 17th home run this season.
Southeastern (37-21) scored its four runs in the fourth inning with an RBI single to right by shortstop Justin Boudreaux. Cass Hargis delivered two more with a triple to left-center field. Ty Summerlin drove home the final run of the inning with a single to left.
Saenz scored the Roadrunners’ second run in the top of the fifth on a single through the left side by Daivs. The Roadrunners tacked on two more in the seventh to tie the game thanks to back-to-back triples by Davis and Hernandez.
Hargis finished the game 4-for-6 with two RBI to lead Southeastern. Boudreaux also had two hits. In addition to his home run and triple, Hernandez also had a single in a 3-for-5 day. He drove in two runs. Three other Roadrunners had two hits.
Chris Franklin picked up his fifth win of the season (5-2), while Matt Crocker took the loss to fall to 6-3.
Start times for Friday’s games are running roughly two hours behind schedule after the 4 hour, 15 minute marathon between UTSA and Southeastern. The 12 inning tied the tournament record for longest game in the Southland tournament. Texas State and UT Arlington played 12 innings in the first of two championship games in 1999.
UT Arlington and Lamar are playing in an elimination game in the other bracket. The winner advances to meet top-seeded Texas State in the final game of the day.
All tournament games are being streamed on SLC NOW on the Southland web site at www.southland.org. Live stats for the games are also available at that address.