Redhawks fall to Southeastern Louisiana

HAMMOND, La. -- Jason Waguespack's one-out home run snapped a 2-2 deadlock and fueled a three-run seventh inning, as Southeastern Louisiana defeated visiting Southeast Missouri State 6-2 Saturday afternoon.

The Redhawks, who won Friday's series opener, fell to 1-4, while the Lions improved to 5-4. The teams close out their three-game series at 1 p.m. today.

Waguespack belted a 2-2 pitch off Southeast reliever Jamie McAlister (0-2) over the left-field fence to give the Lions a 3-2 lead.

The Lions scored two more runs in the inning, both unearned, and added an insurance tally in the eighth when Ryan Spencer homered off Southeast freshman reliever Casey Johnson.

That was enough for Southeastern's Bernard Robert (2-0), who pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Rodney Story and allowed two hits.

Story allowed four hits before giving way in the seventh after Southeast tied the game on an RBI single by Freddy Lopez.

Southeast, which had six hits but committed three errors, took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning when Jordan Payne doubled to right on the first pitch of the game, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Ernie Bracamonte's sacrifice fly.

The Lions tied it in the second and went ahead 2-1 in the fifth as Rob Territo doubled and scored on Waguespack's single up the middle off Southeast starter Anthony Maupin.

Southeast tied the game in the seventh when Frank Montiel led off with a single and moved to third when a pickoff attempt by Story sailed past first base and rolled into the Southeast bullpen. Brent Lawson then drew a walk before Lopez singled up the middle to drive in Montiel.

But Southeast failed to capitalize any further in the seventh despite having runners on first and second with no outs.

Maupin, on a pitch count after having offseason arm surgery, allowed four hits and two runs in 4 1/3 innings.

McAlister, the losing hurler, gave up five hits and three runs -- one earned -- in 2 2/3 innings. Johnson allowed one hit and one run in his inning of work.

Montiel had two of the Redhawks' six hits.