NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana lost 7-4 Friday to LSU-Alexandria in the opener of a Red River Athletic Conference baseball series at Wesley Barrow Stadium.
        The Gold Rush (12-14 overall, 4-12 RRAC) and the Generals (18-15, 10-6) will conclude their series with a 2 p.m. CDT Saturday doubleheader at Barrow.
        XULA took a 2-1 lead in the second inning on consecutive RBI groundouts by Miles Peterson and Cam Finn — those scored Dillon Cousin and Saul Gonzalez, who opened the inning with doubles — but LSUA tied the score in the third and broke the tie with three runs in the sixth.
        Julien Kliebert's two-run single gave LSUA a 5-3 lead, and winning pitcher Cameron Daigle's sacrifice bunt scored Kliebert.
        Cohen Boyd hit RBI singles for XULA in the seventh and ninth innings. Boyd, Courtland Posey and Deionte Norris had two hits apiece, and Peterson scored twice.
        LSUA outhit XULA 13-8 and stole six bases to the Gold Rush's one. Zach Mengarelli had three hits for the Generals, and Kliebert, Joshua Tinnerello and Jordan Ardoin had two apiece.
        Daigle (1-2) allowed three runs and struck out seven in seven innings, and reliever Brandon Noel struck out four.
        For XULA, D'Aires Davis made a sensational diving catch in center field to end the fifth, and reliever Ryan Kinney retired all five batters he faced, three on strikes.