HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana scored three unanswered runs Friday, rallying to defeat Houston Baptist, 3-2, in Southland Conference action at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
With the win, Southeastern (29-13, 16-3 Southland) maintains its hold on the top spot in the conference standings.
HBU (19-21, 9-10 Southland) took a 2-0 lead midway through the game, scoring single runs in the third and fifth innings.
Huskies' left-hander Christian Thames quieted the Southeastern bats through five, scattering a pair of hits, but the Lions finally broke through in the sixth.
Right fielder
Ryan Byers drew a walk to open up the inning and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Second baseman
Carson Crites floated a single into left-center, dropping it in just in front of the Huskies' center fielder.
With two on and one out, designated hitter
Taylor Schwaner reached on a single to load the bases.
After Byers was forced out at the plate on a fielder's choice, pinch hitter
Sam Roberson smacked a 2-run single through the right side to tie the game, 2-2.
In the eighth, Thames issued a walk to first baseman
Jameson Fisher leading off the inning. He advanced around the horn to third on ground outs by Crites and Schwaner, and came home to score the eventual winning run when left fielder
Drew Avans beat out an infield single off the glove of Thames.
Reliever
Gabe Von Rosenberg (2-0) closed out the game with a pair of scoreless innings for the Lions, earning his second win in as many appearances. Thames (2-5) was tagged with the loss, allowing three earned runs on six hits in 7.2 innings of work.
Originally scheduled as three single games, the Lions and HBU will now wrap up the series with a Saturday doubleheader slated for 12 p.m. The second game of the doubleheader will begin approximately 45 minutes after the completion of the day's first contest.
Both games of the doubleheader can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM, online and through the TuneIn Radio app (search for KSLU). Fans can also keep up with the games through live statistics or by following SLUathletics on Twitter. Streaming video is available on LionVision, Southeastern's subscription-based video stream. Links for audio, video, stats, a gameday promotions schedule and tickets are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
Saturday's doubleheader will feature a multitude of promotions, including Bingo at the Ballpark, Cancer Awareness, baseball's alumni reunion and Family Day activities.
Bingo at the Ballpark gives fans the opportunity to win cash and prizes courtesy of Southeastern Athletics.
To raise funds for pediatric cancer research, the Diamond Girls will be selling special T-shirts for $15.
As part of Family Day activities, fans ages 12 and under can stand with their favorite Lion during the national anthem and run the bases after the conclusion of the doubleheader.
The annual baseball alumni reunion will also be held Saturday. All Southeastern baseball alumni are welcome to attend without advance notice, but to help with planning please send last-minute RSVPs to
Larry Hymel at (985) 549-3228 or lhymel@southeastern.edu.
Former Lion players will be recognized on the field prior to Saturday's 12 p.m. game against HBU, with special recognition given to members of the Southeastern Athletics Hall of Fame and those that achieved Major League status in their playing careers.
Doubleheader General Admission tickets will be sold for Saturday's twin bill, costing $12 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12). Season ticket holders can use their Saturday ticket for admission to the first game of the doubleheader and their Sunday ticket for admission to the finale.
Southeastern students are admitted free with a valid university ID card. Students and campus organizations can earn points toward their new Lion Up Loyalty account at any home game by checking in on the mobile app while in attendance.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets or by contacting the athletics ticket office at (985) 549-5466 or 1-866-LION-TIX. Ticket office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Fridays. The box office at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field opens one hour prior to the scheduled first pitch.
Southeastern 3, Houston Baptist 2 (Apr 29, 2016 at Hammond, La.)
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Houston Baptist...... 001 010 000 - 2 9 0 (19-21, 9-10)
Southeastern.......... 000 002 01X - 3 6 2 (29-13, 16-3)
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Pitchers: Houston Baptist - Thames, Christian; Toal, Brody (8) and Thomas, Blake. Southeastern - Cedotal, Kyle; Von Rosenberg, Gabe (8) and Eades, Chris; Roberson, Sam.
Win-Von Rosenberg, Gabe (2-0) Loss-Thames, Christian (2-5) T-2:40 A-1111
Weather: Partly Cloudy 83, SSE 14 mph
