HAMMOND, La. – Seton Hall took advantage of Southeastern Louisiana errors Thursday to build an early lead, and pull away late, in a 16-3 non-conference win over the Lions at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
The first inning held no clues as to the eventual outcome.
Bryce Tassin, in his first career start for Southeastern (34-18), retired the Seton Hall (29-21) side in order to open up the game, and
Ryan Byers led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to left-center field.
Byers' homer was his 11th of the season and put the Lions up, 1-0.
Tassin struggled with his control in the second.
After surrendering a leadoff single, he retired the next batter on a fly out to right. He then issued a walk to right fielder Mike Alescio before designated hitter Sebastiano Santorelli singled through the left side to load the bases.
It looked like Tassin might work out of the jam when Pirate second baseman Mike Caputo lined out to short and Jackson Martin chopped a bouncing ball to the left side. The ball kicked off the glove of third baseman
Taylor Schwaner, allowing a run to score.
Seton Hall followed with a two-run double down the left-field line and a three-run homer to left, scoring six unearned runs in the inning.
The Lions rebounded in the bottom of the inning, cutting the lead in half with a pair of runs.
Derrick Mount, a senior from Saucier, Mississippi, singled up the middle and advanced to second when
Webb Bobo was hit by a pitch.
Daniel Wasinger, a junior catcher from El Paso, Texas, followed up by ripping a double into the gap in right-center to score both runners.
Southeastern reliever
Drew Avans shut down the Seton Hall bats over the next four-plus innings, but the Lions failed to close the gap.
Over the final three innings, Seton Hall scored 10 runs. Only half were earned.
Pirate starting pitcher Chris Morris (3-2) earned the win, allowing three runs in five innings pitched. He scattered three hits, four walks and a pair of hit batters, striking out four.
Tassin (2-2) suffered the loss, allowing six runs – all unearned – in 1.2 innings of work. He allowed four hits and issued a pair of walks, fanning one batter.
The series continues Friday at 6 p.m. with sophomore right-hander
Corey Gaconi (5-4, 2.62) getting the starting nod for Southeastern.
Friday's 6 p.m. game is both Senior Night and Military Appreciation Night. All fans presenting a valid service member ID will receive free admission. Prior to the game, seniors
Carson Crites,
Jacob Seward,
Derrick Mount,
Webb Bobo,
Ryan Byers and
Cliff Hurst will be honored in a special ceremony.
Southeastern is also hosting the Special Olympics in Strawberry Stadium Friday evening. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to avoid any traffic or parking issues.
The game can be heard in the Hammond, Louisiana, area on KSLU 90.9 FM, and worldwide online or through the TuneIn Radio app (search for KSLU). Fans can keep up with the game 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, gameday promotions and tickets can be found on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
General Admission tickets for Lion home games are $9 for adults and $6 for children (ages 3-12). Tax is included in the price of admission. Southeastern students are admitted free with a valid university ID card.
Students and campus organizations can earn points toward their 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. The box office at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field opens one hour prior to the scheduled first pitch.
Seton Hall 16, Southeastern 3 (May 18, 2017 at Hammond, La.)
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Seton Hall............. 060 000 343 - 16 15 1 (29-21)
Southeastern........ 120 000 000 - 3 4 3 (34-18)
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Pitchers: Seton Hall - Morris, Chris; Pacillo, Anthony (6); Schellenger, Zach (7); DeVito, Rick (8); Leon, Matt (9) and Fortin, Matt. Southeastern - Tassin, Bryce; Avans, Drew (2); Green, Josh (7); Hurst, Cliff (8); Graffeo, Carlo (9) and Wasinger, Daniel; Pace, Evan.
Win-Morris, Chris (3-2) Loss-Tassin, Bryce (2-2) T-3:24 A-1001
HR HALL - Poduslenko, Joe (7).
HR SLU - Byers, Ryan (11).
Weather: Partly Cloudy 82, SE 14 mph
Green, J. faced 2 batters in the 8th.
