HAMMOND, La. – For the second time in as many days, SIUE baseball dropped a one-run decision to Southeastern Louisiana. The Lions scored a walk-off 4-3 win over the Cougars Saturday at Alumni Field.
The Cougars are now 0-2. Southeastern La. Is 2-0.
Southeastern Louisiana scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a wild pitch after a hit batter and an infield hit.
"It was a frustrating game because we just didn't play defense at a level we expect to play," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said.
SIUE committed three errors, after not committing an error in Friday's season opener. The Cougars surrendered two unearned runs.
The Cougars managed three runs on just three hits against four Southeastern Louisiana pitchers.
"We have yet to find our way offensively," Lyons said. "It's tough to win ball games when you have three errors and strikeout 13 times"
Ole Arntson, Drew Mize and Josh Ohl accounted for the three hits. SIUE scored twice in the second inning, getting a sacrifice fly from Steven Pattan and scoring a run on a wild pitch to lead 2-0. Southeastern Louisiana scored a run in the third and another in the fourth to tie the game 2-2.
Ohl hit his second career home run in the fifth to put the Cougars back on top 3-2. The Lions added an unearned run in the eighth to even the score again at 3-3.
"We have not been able to get comfortable offensively these first two days," Lyons added.
Brant Glidewell allowed a single earned run over four innings in the start. He struck out five. Quinn Waterhouse threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings striking out two. Kyle Dixon worked two innings allowing an unearned run and struck out three. Alex Scherer worked 2/3 of an inning, allowing a run, and took the loss.
SIUE pitchers have struck out 21 hitters over the first two days of the series.
"We have pitched well," Lyons said. "What has been good about this weekend is the guys out of the bullpen have done a nice job. Today it was Quinn's turn. Kyle Dixon did a tremendous job to get out a jam. Alex Scherer was on the wrong side of some bad luck."
The Cougars will finish the series with a 1 p.m. game Sunday afternoon.
"We'll get back out there tomorrow and keep at it," Lyons said.
