BATON ROUGE, La. – No. 1 seed LSU broke a 5-5 tie with second-seeded Southeastern Louisiana by scoring five combined runs in the fifth and sixth innings on the way to an 11-6 victory over the Lions in the winner's bracket game of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional at Alex Box Stadium.
 
Southeastern (37-21) will now face Rice (32-30) on Sunday at 3 p.m. in an elimination game. The Owls opened the day with a 13-6 victory over Texas Southern earlier on Saturday.
 
The winner of Sunday's game will have to beat the host Tigers (45-17) twice, once on Sunday at 8 p.m. and again on Monday at 6 p.m. One more win for LSU will send the hosts to the NCAA Super Regionals.
 
A pitcher's duel was expected in Saturday's finale, as both LSU and Southeastern sent their aces – Alex Lange (9-5) for LSU and junior Mac Sceroler (9-2) for SLU. It was anything but, as the two offenses combined for 17 runs and 21 hits in a wild back-and-forth affair.
 
Senior Ryan Byers led the Lion attack with a home run and three RBI, while junior Taylor Schwaner hit his second home run is as many games. Seniors Webb Bobo and Jacob Seward added two hits apiece for SLU.
 
LSU was led at the plate by Zach Watson, who finished 3-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored. Josh Smith added a home run of his own for the Tigers, while Kramer Robertson sparked LSU with a 4-for-4 day from the leadoff spot.  
 
Southeastern jumped out to an early lead off Lange in the top of the first inning. Byers led off the game with his 12^th home run of the season to stake SLU to an early 1-0 advantage. Byers is the first Lion to open a NCAA Regional game with a home run since Tommy Ferrand versus LSU on May 26, 1994.
 
The Tigers answered in a big way in the bottom of the first inning against Sceroler. RBI singles by Cole Freeman and Greg Deichmann gave LSU the lead. Two batters later, Smith lined a two-run home run over the right centerfield wall to give the Tigers a 4-1 cushion.
 
After LSU batted around in its half of the first, the Lions responded by doing the same in the top of the second. Bobo led off the frame with a single, stole second and scored on an RBI single by senior Derrick Mount. Mount then stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by junior Daniel Wasinger to cut the Tiger lead to 4-3.
 
Seward followed with a single through the right side and moved to second on the throw to third trying to nail Wasinger. Byers then pushed a perfect squeeze bunt to the right side of the mound. Wasinger easily scored and a hustling Seward never stopped running from second, sliding just under the tag of LSU catcher Michael Papierski, allowing the Lions to reclaim a 5-4 lead.
 
LSU pulled even again in the bottom of the third inning. Watson singled, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Wasinger. One out later, Beau Jordan dropped a single into left centerfield to even the score. SLU kept the score knotted, as sophomore Brennan Breaud made a diving stop on a Papierski pop fly to shallow left centerfield for the second out and Sceroler forced Jake Slaughter to foul out to end the inning.
 
LSU retook the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning. Watson led off the frame with his seventh home run of the season over the left field fence to give the Tigers the lead. After Sceroler left the game, the Tigers padded their lead with an RBI single by Robertson. Another run would come in when Freeman avoided a double play by a step, giving LSU an 8-5 advantage.
 
Watson struck again in the bottom of the sixth inning. After freshman Bryce Tassin walked Deichmann, the Tiger centerfielder hit his second home run of the game and his fourth home run of the regional over the left field fence to give LSU a 10-5 lead.
 
Southeastern pulled closer in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Schwaner hit a towering shot over the left centerfield fence off LSU reliever Zack Hess. The Southland Conference Player of the Year's team-high 15^th home run of the season cut the Tiger advantage to 10-6.
 
The Tigers got the run back in their half of the seventh inning. Robertson led off the frame with a single, moved to second on an error, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a passed ball. His unearned run pushed the LSU lead back to five at 11-6.
 
Hess and Hunter Newman combined to sit down the final six Lions they faced over the last two innings to secure the final margin.
 
Every game of the Baton Rouge Regional will be carried live on ESPN3, ESPN's live multi-screen sports network. It is accessible online at www.WatchESPN.com, and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN and ESPN apps. Games can also be streamed via Amazon Fire TV and the Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Sling TV, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

All of Southeastern's games in the tournament 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.

Links for audio, video and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
Clear Bag Policy
Fans headed to the game should be aware of LSU's Clear Bag Policy. The policy is consistent with what the NFL and other professional organizations have done for the past several years. 
 
Only clear tote bags smaller than 12" x 6" x 12" or one-gallon plastic freezer bags will be allowed in athletic venues on the LSU campus. In addition, small handheld clutch purses will be permitted into LSU venues.
 
All backpacks regardless of size are prohibited and any bags larger than 12" x 6" x 12", clear or non-clear will be strictly prohibited. Exceptions will be made for approved medical needs and diaper bags (with baby). All bags will be subject to search and inspection.
 
More information can be found at www.LSUsports.net/GeauxClear.
 
Tickets Purchase Through Southeastern Ticket Office
Fans who purchased tickets through the Southeastern Louisiana Athletic Ticket Office can pick them up at the designated Will Call table, located to the side of the ticket office on the third-base side of the stadium between Gates 2 and 3. 
 
Signage will direct fans to the correct gate. The gate may change based on ticket locations each game. Gates will open 2 hours prior to the scheduled start time of the first game of the day. The stadium is cleared following each session and will reopen prior to the second game of the day.
 
Parking Information
Free parking is available for all fans in the Hayfield Lot, Levee Lot, and Old Front Nine Lot. A shuttle services fans that park in the Hayfield Lot and drops off in front of the ticket office plaza. 
 
Handicap parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Hall of Fame Lot and Bullpen Lot. Fans can access those lots by showing their state issued handicap driver's license or handicap hangtag.
 
RV parking is available in Lot 404 and Lot 406.  RV parking is free on a first-come, first-serve basis and permits are not needed.
 
NCAA Baton Rouge Regional – June 2-5, 2017
 
Friday, June 2
Game 1 – No. 1 LSU 15, No. 4 Texas Southern 7
Game 2 – No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana 12. No. 3 Rice 6
 
Saturday, June 3
Game 3 – Rice 13, Texas Southern 6 (TSU eliminated)
Game 4 – LSU 11, Southeastern Louisiana 6
 
Sunday, June 4
Game 5 – Rice vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 3 p.m. (WatchESPN)
Game 6 – Game 5 Winner vs. LSU, 8 p.m. (WatchESPN)
 
Monday, June 5
Game 7 – Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser, 6 p.m. (If necessary) (WatchESPN)