After two losses against the No. 28-ranked Sam Houston State Bearkats, the Lions baseball team managed to defeat the Bearkats in the last home game of the season thanks to good pitching and an aggressive defense.
Initially the first game of the series, which was scheduled to take place on Friday night, was postponed due to rain. This caused Saturday to be the first of the three game series against the Bearkats. On Saturday, the Lions suffered a loss at Pat Kennelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
Ladd Rhodes, a senior outfielder, contributed the Lions’ only run in the first game of the series, scoring off of a wild pitch in the eighth inning, bringing the final score to 4-1.
The Lions and Bearkats returned to the Pat for a double-header on Mother’s Day and also Senior Day, which honored seven graduating Lions baseball players. In the first game on Sunday, the Lions fell to the Bearkats again, 4-0.
“You got to tip your hat. [Sam Houston]’s a really good club right there,” said head coach Jay Artigues. “They’re nationally ranked. They’ve got three really good left-handed arms, and they did a good job pitching.”
However, the Lions did not hesitate fighting for a win in the third game of the series against the Bearkats and the last home game of the 2012-2013 season.
In the first inning, a single hit up the middle by Sam Roberson drove in both Jameson Fisher and Ben Hernandez. and a ground ball hit by Harry Slade to the short stop gave Roberson the opportunity to score as well.
“Obviously, the difference was on the mound. Kaleb Manuel did a great job throwing strikes, but our defense played well behind him,” said Artigues. “This game put a little pressure on them [Sam Houston]. We got three runs in the first inning, and when you do that, it kind of takes them out of their game.”
Of the seven graduating seniors, several contributed in the final home game of the season to earn the Lions a 5-1 victory over the Bearkats in the third game of the series.
“It feels good, especially the last home game at the Pat, to come out and get a win,” said Rhodes, who slid into home to score in the third inning. “That’s the best part about it. We showed all weekend trying to find our niche, trying to find something to keep us going, and we finally did. It was big to get that last win.”
Harry Slade, a senior outfielder, contributed the last run of the game, increasing the Lion win to 5-1.
“It feels great to get the last win of the year and of my career here at the Pat,” said Slade. “It was a good team effort. I felt that Kaleb threw the ball real well, and we played a good defense behind him.”
Kaleb Manuel, also a senior, pitched the entire last game in the series against Sam Houston.
“It felt great. It’s my last game at the Pat, and I couldn’t go out a better way,” said Manuel. “I just want to thank my coaches for giving me a chance. They did a hell of a job, and the guys behind me did great, too. I couldn’t ask for a better Senior Day.”
The Lions’ win snapped Sam Houston’s 11-game winning streak. The Lions are currently tied for third place in the Southland Conference.
“We got one more series coming at McNeese,” said Artigues. “It’s important to go down there, play well and get the momentum going into the conference tournament. I’m excited about getting into the conference tournament and hopefully getting down there and winning it.”  
The Lions will travel to McNeese for the last regular series of the season on May 16 through 18, and then to Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas for the Southland Conference on May 22 through 25. For additional information, visit lionsports.net.