HAMMOND, La. – Taylor Schwaner and Bryce Steckler each homered, and the Lions turned their first triple play since the 2012 season Tuesday as Southeastern Louisiana cruised to a 9-1 win over Alcorn State at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
Southeastern (22-10), which entered the night having played the most games in Division I, was in midseason form, putting up three runs in three separate innings.
 
Lion starting pitcher Mason Knopp set the tone early, striking out five of the first seven batters he faced.
 
The offense kicked in some support beginning in the second inning.
 
Right fielder Mike Taylor led off with a single to right-center field. He scored on Schwaner's blast to left, the second of the season for the preseason All-American.
 
With one out, designated hitter Nathan Pilutti picked up his first hit as a Lion and then stole second base. He advanced to third on a passed ball, which also happened to be ball four to second baseman Cade Pipoly. After Pipoly stole second, Pilutti scored on a groundout off the bat of Brennan Breaud.
 
Alcorn (8-19) answered with a solo home run leading off the third, but it was the only significant bit of offense the Braves would generate in the game.
 
Pilutti, Pipoly and Breaud drew back-to-back-to-back walks leading off the fourth. Pilutti scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Drew Avans, but Breaud was erased at second on the play. Pipoly scored from third after Avans got caught in a rundown attempting to steal second. With the bases empty, Steckler launched a solo homer to left.
 
Up 6-1, the Lions added their final runs in the seventh.
 
Relievers Will Warren, Bryce Tassin and Trey Shaffer each tossed a scoreless inning and fanned a pair of hitters in relief of Knopp.
 
The eighth inning did not start out how right-hander Jace Nini would have liked, walking the leading off hitter and surrendering a single to left, but the junior rebounded by getting Alcorn catcher Kyle Jenkins to hit a ground ball to third.
 
Schwaner tossed the ball to Pipoly at second for the first out and Pipoly's relay to first was in time to get Jenkins, but the play was not over. Braves pinch runner D'Vennio Warner advanced to third on the play, rounding the bag too far. Southeastern first baseman Scottie Sanders alertly fired to Breaud, who was covering the bag, for the final out of a triple play to end the inning.
 
Peyton Lee retired all three batters he faced in the ninth, striking out the final batter of the game.
 
Knopp (3-1) earned the win in a pre-determined short start, striking out a career-high six in his four innings. Lion pitchers combined to strike out 13 batters.
 
Jahborus Smith (2-5), the first of four pitchers used by Alcorn, suffered the loss. Braves pitching combined to walk 10 batters in the game, fanning one.
 
Taylor (2-for-4) turned in the only multi-hit performance for Southeastern at the plate, but Breaud drove in three and Schwaner plated a pair with his home run.
 
The eighth-inning triple play was the first turned by the Lions since a 4-3 win over then No. 21-ranked Mississippi State on March 13, 2012, in Hammond.
 
Southeastern continues its five-game homestand Friday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
TICKETS
Single game tickets for Lion home games can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets or by contacting the athletics ticket office at (985) 549-5466. 
 
General Admission tickets 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, campus organizations and fans can earn points toward their Lion Up Loyalty account at any home game by checking in on the mobile app while in attendance.
 
DIAMOND CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the baseball program are encouraged to join the Diamond Club. All membership fees and donations to the Diamond Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern baseball program.
 
Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at (985) 549-5091.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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