SUGAR LAND, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana baseball team's run towards the Southland Conference Tournament championship was ended on Friday with a 7-4 loss to New Orleans at Constellation Field.
 
Southeastern (36-20) will now await its postseason fate when the 64-team NCAA Tournament Field is announced on Monday. The Memorial Day broadcast is set for 11 a.m. on ESPN2. The Lions will be looking for its third NCAA Regional berth under fourth-year head coach Matt Riser and for their second straight at-large selection.
 
UNO (30-27-1) staved off elimination and will advance to a 4 p.m. contest versus Sam Houston State later on Friday.
 
Southeastern managed just five hits against New Orleans pitching, though three of the Lions' hits were home runs. Sophomore Evan Pace, senior Derrick Mount and junior Drew Avans all hit solo shots in the loss.
 
UNO took the lead for good in the bottom of the first inning versus SLU sophomore starter Carlisle Koestler (4-4). After a John Cable single, Hezekiah Randolph lined a two-run home run over the left centerfield wall to stake the Privateers to an early 2-0 advantage.
 
New Orleans starter Riley Hodge sat down the first seven Lions he faced before SLU got to him in the top of the third inning. Pace started the scoring, powering a 2-2 pitch over the left field fence to put Southeastern on the board. Hodge then walked senior Jacob Seward and hit senior Ryan Byers before being pulled from the game in favor of reliever Reeves Martin. Martin kept the UNO lead at 2-1 by retiring sophomore Brennan Breaud and junior Taylor Schwaner.
 
The score would remain the same until UNO scratched out a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Privateers loaded the bases with two outs, then Schwaner booted a grounder off the bat of Darren Willis to allow New Orleans to extend its lead to 3-1.
 
UNO added to its advantage in the bottom of the fifth inning. RBI singles by Randolph and Dakota Dean grew the Privateer lead to 5-1.
 
SLU drew closer in the top of the sixth inning. Schwaner led off the frame with walk, moved to second on a Martin failed pickoff, advanced to third on a groundout by senior Webb Bobo and scored on a balk by Martin to bring the Lions within three, 5-2.
 
New Orleans answered in the bottom of the frame. Aaron Palmer doubled and scored on an RBI single by John Cable. Another run would come home on a balk called on Avans, allowing the Privateers to jump ahead, 7-2.
 
Pace's third-inning home run was the lone hit Southeastern had until it threatened with two outs in the eighth inning. Schawner singled and moved to third on a double into the left field corner by senior Carson Crites. UNO reliever Christopher DeMayo struck out senior Webb Bobo to keep the Privateer cushion at five.
 
Southeastern would not go away, quietly, however, in the top of the ninth inning. Mount and Avans led off the frame with consecutive solo home runs over the left field fence, but DeMayo retired Pace, Seward and Breaud to close out his third save of the season.
 
The latest installment of The Matt Riser Show airs Monday at 7 p.m. from Buddies' Bar & Grill on S. Morrison Blvd. Hosted by Allen Waddell, the weekly show airs on flagship station KSLU 90.9 FM, in addition to Southeastern Sports Radio Network affiliates Kajun 107.1 FM, the Highway 104.7 FM and WFPR 1400 AM. The show is also available online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and on the TuneIn Radio app (search for KSLU). Fans can tweet questions for Coach Riser to @Lions_Baseball.
 
SLU – 001 001 002 - 4 5 2 (36-20)  
UNO – 200 122 00x – 7 10 2 (30-27-1)
Carlisle Koestler, Drew Avans (5), Evan Hileman (7) and Evan Pace. Riley Hodge, Reeves Martin (3), Christopher DeMayo (7) and Spencer Miller. W – Martin (3-4). L – Koestler (4-4). HR – SLU: Evan Pace (1), Derrick Mount (5), Drew Avans (4); UNO: Hezekiah Randolph (13). 2B – SLU: Carson Crites (13); UNO: Aaron Palmer (6). T – 2:46. A – n/a.

2017 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, May 24
Game One: No. 3 Sam Houston State 13, No. 6 Stephen F. Austin 1 (7 Innings)
Game Two: No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana 12, No. 7 New Orleans 7
Game Three: No. 1 McNeese 7, No. 8 Lamar 5
Game Four: No. 5 Central Arkansas 15, No. 4 Houston Baptist 4 (7 Innings)

Thursday, May 25
Game Five: New Orleans 4, Stephen F. Austin 3 (10 Innings) (SFA eliminated)
Game Six: Houston Baptist 8, Lamar 5 (Lamar eliminated)
Game Seven: Sam Houston State 8, Southeastern Louisiana 4
Game Eight: Central Arkansas 5, McNeese 3

Friday, May 26
Game Nine: New Orleans 7, Southeastern Louisiana 4 (SLU eliminated)
Game 10: McNeese vs. Houston Baptist, 12 p.m.
Game 11: Sam Houston State vs. New Orleans, 4 p.m.
Game 12: Central Arkansas vs. Winner Game 10, 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 27
Game 13: Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 11, 9 a.m. *#
Game 14: Loser Game 12 vs. Winner Game 12, 1 p.m. ^#
Championship: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, 6 p.m. +

* Game 13 will be necessary if the winner of Game 9 also wins Game 11.
^ Game 14 will be necessary if the winner of Game 10 also wins Game 12.
# If only one of the two early games is necessary on Saturday, it will be played at 1 p.m., with the Championship Game starting at 6 p.m.
+ If both bracket winners are undefeated, the championship game will be played on Saturday at 6 p.m.

NOTE: There will be a minimum of 45 minutes between games on Wednesday and 30 minutes the remainder of the week with no game starting prior to its scheduled start time.
 
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