Southern University Emerges Victorious Over Dillard in a Close Contest
BATON ROUGE, LA (April 8,2025) : In an exciting midweek baseball showdown at Lee Hines Stadium, Southern University emerged victorious over Dillard University with a final score of 7-4. The game, marked by strategic plays and critical hits, captivated the 446 attendees for nearly three hours in a sun-drenched setting.
The action started early, with Dillard University taking an initial lead in the first inning. Ian Carr scored on a groundout RBI by Jaylen Mateo, and Derrald Moore Jr. added another run after stealing third and capitalizing on a catching error. Southern quickly countered in the same inning, with Taj Bates and Tyree Carr driving in two runs to equalize the score at 2-2.
Dillard regained a brief lead in the fourth when Renard Smith's sacrifice fly allowed Angel Polanco to cross the plate. However, Southern's Jacoby Radcliffe responded with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning, bringing the score to 4-3 in favor of the Jaguars.
Dillard tied the game again in the sixth inning, with Gustavo Torrealba's sacrifice fly bringing home Polanco, but Southern's offense proved relentless. In the seventh inning, Jaylon Lucky's clutch double scored Cardell Thibodeaux, giving Southern a 5-4 lead. The Jaguars sealed their victory in the eighth inning with Benny Bikar's RBI single and a daring double steal, where Radcliffe stole home to conclude the scoring at 7-4.
Southern's pitching staff held strong against Dillard's persistent offense. Casey Coates secured the win, pitching two innings and allowing just one run on two hits. Southern's pitchers collectively struck out 12 Dillard batters while walking only eight over the course of the game.
Despite the loss, Dillard's Ian Carr stood out with a robust offensive performance, going 3-for-4, while Angel Polanco contributed significantly with two runs. However, they were ultimately unable to overcome Southern's strategic plays and strong defensive efforts.
The victory improved Southern University's record to 13-17, while Dillard University fell to 18-16. Both teams will look forward to their upcoming games as they continue to refine their strategies and performances this season.
-Bleu Devils-
