The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team shut down No. 8-ranked Southern Miss, 5-1, Tuesday in non-conference action at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.
Luke Lirette tossed 6.2 scoreless innings, striking out seven batters as Southeastern (17-12) earned its second win over a ranked team in the last two weeks. SLU shut out then No. 8-ranked Oklahoma, 3-0, in Hammond, Louisiana, back on March 17.
The Lions send nine batters to the plate in the fourth, breaking open a scoreless game with four runs.
Justin Williams, who led off the inning with an infield single, was aboard for Brody Capps’ team-leading seventh home run of the season. After hitting Peyton Woods with a pitch and surrendering Rhett Centanni’s single, the Golden Eagles (21-8) pulled starting pitcher Kros Sivley in favor of left-hander Bruce Littleton.
Connor Cuff sacrificed the runners into scoring position, setting up Alex Perry’s RBI single through the right side. Dane Watts brought in Centanni with a sac bunt.
SLU added a run in the sixth when three different Southern Miss pitchers issued consecutive walks, the final one coming with the bases loaded to force in the run.
Meanwhile, Lirette cruised, tying a career-high in innings pitched and establishing a new best in strikeouts. Larson Fabre (0.2 IP), Logan Freche (0.2 IP) and Triston Todorowski (1.0 IP) finished it out for the Lions.
Lirette (2-1) earned the win. Sivley (3-2) suffered the loss, allowing four runs – all earned – in 3.0 innings of work.
Centanni (2-for-4) and Perry (2-for-4) delivered multiple hits apiece for SLU, while left fielder Justin Williams made a pair of highlight-reel catches in the seventh and eighth.
READ MORE:Upset Alert! Southeastern Lions shut down No. 8 Southern Miss, 5-1
