LAKE CHARLES, La.- Central Michigan struggled at the plate Saturday afternoon, falling to Southeastern Louisiana, 8-1.
The Chippewas (3-6) mustered just four hits in the game, two by junior Jordan Adams, while the Lions (8-2) stole 10 bases in the game to put pressure on the CMU defense and split the series at a game apiece.
SELA took an early lead, 3-0, with a run in the bottom of the first and two in the second before the Chippewas scored their only run of the game in the top of the third to cut the deficit to two, 3-1.
Redshirt freshman Pat MacKenzie doubled to center field to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a wild pitch one batter later. After MacKenzie scored on a fielder's choice, the Chippewas appeared to have a big inning brewing, loading the bases on a single by senior Eric Wrozek and a walk to senior Nate Theunissen, but Josh Janway got a strikeout and induced a fly out to end the Chippewas' threat.
The Lions responded in the bottom of the third with a single run in the bottom of the third to push their lead back to three, 4-1, and scored two runs in the fifth and sixth innings for the final 8-1 score.
Senior Ryan Longstreth (1-1) started for the Chippewas and suffered the loss, giving up six runs - four earned - on seven hits and three walks over five innings. Freshman Sean Renzie pitched three innings in relief, giving up two runs on a hit and three walks while striking out three.
Janway (2-0) earned the win for the Lions, going six innings and striking out four, giving up just three hits to the Chippewas.
Adams finished the day with his first two hits of the season, going 2-for-4, while MacKenzie went 1-for-2 with a run scored and a walk. Theunissen was held hitless for the first time this season, snapping his 15-game hitting streak dating back to last season.
The Chippewas take on McNeese State tonight at Cowboy Diamond and fans can follow live stats through McNeeseSports.com.
