HAMMOND, La. – For the second time in two days, Louisiana Tech mounted a massive rally, barreling back from a seven-run deficit Saturday to defeat Southeastern Louisiana, 15-11, at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
Southeastern (0-2), just as it had in the series opener, jumped out to a large lead over Tech (2-0) early in the nonconference contest. 
 
The Lions scored a pair of runs in the second inning, taking a one-run lead, before batting around in the third.
 
Cody Grosse started the six-run explosion with a leadoff triple just inside the right-field line. The senior shortstop scored on Preston Faulkner's one-out RBI single down the third-base line. Following a pair of walks sandwiched around a fielder's choice, senior Bryce Steckler pulled a two-run single to left field.
 
After driving in a run on a groundout in the second, redshirt freshman Nick Ray drove in two more in the third with a triple to left-center. Connor Manola, a redshirt freshman catcher from Brusly, Louisiana, plated Ray with a single up the middle to complete the scoring.
 
With the Lions up, 8-1, Tech started to chip away at the lead.
 
The Bulldogs picked up a pair of runs in the fourth on a two-out double.
 
Southeastern got one of the runs back in the bottom half of the inning, but the Bulldogs countered with an eight-spot in the fifth for an 11-9 lead.
 
Relievers Jared Biddy and Bryce Tassin combined to keep the Tech bats in check over the next three innings while the Lions tried to claw back even.
 
Southeastern pulled within a run in the eighth. With one out, Faulkner, a sophomore from Denham Springs, Louisiana, reached after a strike-three pitch kicked to the backstop. Advancing to second base on a groundout, he scored on Nathan Pilutti's RBI single through the right side.
 
Tech would extend its lead, though, with four more runs in the ninth.
 
The Lions rallied for a run in their last at-bat but left the bases loaded.
 
Eli Johnson, a junior transfer from Chehalis, Washington, Manola and Ray all picked up the first hit of their Lion careers Saturday.
 
Manola (3-for-5), Faulkner (2-for-6), Pilutti (2-for-3) and Steckler (2-for-5) each turned in multihit performances, helping pace the Southeastern offensive attack. Ray and Steckler drove in three runs apiece while Faulkner picked up a pair of RBI.
 
The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. Southeastern will counter Bulldog senior left-hander Logan Bailey (8-1, 2.24) with redshirt-senior righty Carlisle Koestler (7-1, 2.68). Both pitchers were preseason All-Conference selections.
 
Every Sunday home game throughout the 2019 season is Local Hero Appreciation Day, with the Lions giving thanks to our first responders, service members and military personnel by offering a discounted ticket (must have a valid service ID).
 
The series finale can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM. In addition, the broadcast may be heard online and through the Lions Gameday Experience, Radio FX or TuneIn apps. Fans can also keep up with all the action through streaming video ($), live statistics or by following @SLUathletics on Twitter.
  
Web links to audio, video, stats, promotions and tickets are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
The new Lions Gameday Experience app puts audio, stats, video, social media and more in the hands of fans. Those in attendance can also check in to earn reward points redeemable for Southeastern-related prizes. Available for both Android and iOS devices, it can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.

CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of the 2018 fall semester. The policy mirrors safety precautions taken upon entrance to professional and collegiate sporting venues throughout the country. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/Clear.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Single-game tickets can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets or by contacting the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Fridays.

General Admission tickets for Lion home games are $9 for adults and $6 for children (ages 3-12). Southeastern students are admitted free with a valid university ID card.
 
The ticket booth at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field opens exactly one hour before first pitch.

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.
 
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 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
INSIDE SOUTHEASTERN BASEBALL WITH MATT RISER
The 2019 edition of Inside Southeastern Baseball with Matt Riser debuts Feb. 18 at noon from Blackened Brew in downtown Hammond.
 
Riser joins host Allen Waddell at lunchtime every Monday during the regular season for the 60-minute radio show, talking the latest in Southeastern baseball. Each week, one of the Lion players will also join the duo. Blackened Brew is located at 112 W. Thomas St.
 
The show airs on the flagship station of the Southeastern Sports Radio Network, KSLU 90.9 FM, online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the Lions Gameday Experience, Radio FX and TuneIn Radio apps. A live video stream of the show will also be available via Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/sluathletics.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Lions Baseball, follow @LionUpBaseball or @MattRiser17 on Twitter,  @LionUpBaseball on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.