HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana completed a series sweep of Stephen F. Austin with a 7-3 win Sunday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field, claiming its 10th-consecutive appearance in next month's Southland Conference Tournament.
 
The Lions (30-17, 17-7 Southland) jumped out in front first in what looked like it might be another pitcher's duel, picking up a run in the third inning off SFA (14-29, 6-15 Southland) starting pitcher Trevor Kiminski.
 
Cody Grosse, who delivered Saturday's game-winning hit, ripped a one-out single to center field. Kiminski hit right fielder Nathan Pilutti, a junior from Destrehan, Louisiana, with the next pitch and then walked Drew Avans on four pitches to load the bases. Taylor Schwaner, a senior from Slidell, Louisiana, plated Grosse on a groundout to short.
 
Southeastern starting pitcher Corey Gaconi cut down hitter-after-hitter until the sixth when the Lumberjacks picked up a pair of runs, taking the lead, on two-out double to right-center field by Josh Evans.
 
The Lions wasted little time regaining the lead.
 
Avans drew a leadoff walk in the bottom half of the inning and Kiminski hit Schwaner with a pitch. Kyle Schimpf, a junior from Covington, Louisiana, sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Avans scored on a passed ball and designated hitter Daniel Wasinger lined an RBI single to center, driving home Schwaner to chase Kiminski from the game.
 
Reliever Trayson Kubo walked Evan Pace before surrendering an RBI single to Brennan Breaud.
 
SFA pulled within a run in the seventh, 4-3, and threatened to tie it up, but Pilutti's throw from right hit the cutoff man. Schimpf, in turn, fired a strike to the plate in time for Pace to tag out the runner attempting to score for the final out of the inning.
 
The Lions padded their lead in the eighth on an RBI single by Pace and a two-run single by Grosse.
 
Gaconi (4-1) earned the win, allowing two runs in six innings of work. He scattered six hits and did not walk a batter, striking out five. Mason Knopp, Peyton Lee and Jared Biddy combined to work the final three innings for Southeastern.
 
Kiminski (2-5) suffered the loss, allowing four runs in 5.1 innings of work. He surrendered three hits and three walks, hitting two batters and striking out three.
 
Grosse (2-for-5) and Wasinger (2-for-3) led Southeastern at the plate.
 
With the victory, the Lions have earned at least 30 wins on the field in 12 straight seasons.
 
Southeastern embarks on a six-game road trip to begin the month of May, opening a Southland series at 6:30 p.m. Friday at conference-leading Sam Houston State. The Lions enter the series in second, 2.5 games back of the Bearkats.
 
DIAMOND CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the baseball program are encouraged to join the Diamond Club. Lion baseball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners. S Club members also gain membership in the Diamond Club.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Diamond Club and S Club (baseball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern baseball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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