STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State blew open a pitchers' duel late on the way to a 9-0 nonconference win Friday over Southeastern Louisiana at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
 
The Lions (6-11) mustered just one hit off Oklahoma State (11-5) pitching.
 
Corey Gaconi retired the first six batters he faced before Oklahoma State center fielder Trevor Boone pulled a double inside the right-field line leading off the third. After he was sacrificed to third base, Boone scored on a ground ball to second base.
 
Southeastern threatened in the fourth. Brennan Breaud reached with one out on a fielding error by the Cowboy third baseman Andrew Navigato. Kyle Schimpf worked a two-out walk, but Nick Ray struck out to end the threat.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Navigato laced a leadoff triple into the right-center field gap. He scored when the next batter chopped a ball off Gaconi's glove.
 
The Lions picked up their first hit of the game in the sixth. Nathan Pilutti led off the inning with a single through the left side, but he was erased on a double-play ground ball.
 
Gaconi worked around a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning, getting a double-play ball to erase the runner.
 
Southeastern threatened again in the seventh. Cowboy starting pitcher Jensen Elliott issued back-to-back one-out walks to Schimpf and Ray, but both were stranded in scoring position.
 
Oklahoma State scratched across a two-out run in the seventh off Jared Biddy, knocking back-to-back doubles, and then blew open the game with six runs (one earned) in the eighth.
 
Elliott (2-0) picked up the win, allowing one hit in seven shutout innings of work. The right-hander walked four and struck out five.
 
Gaconi (1-2) suffered the loss despite allowing just two runs in six innings of work. He scattered four hits and did not walk a batter, striking out three.
 
The last time Southeastern picked up just a single hit in a nine-inning game was April 15, 2016, in a 4-1 loss at then No. 22-ranked UL Lafayette.
 
The series continues Saturday at 2:05 p.m. A local television broadcast of the game is accessible through the Oklahoma State YouTube account (/OSUathletics).
 
The game can be heard in the Hammond area on the flagship station of the Southeastern Sports Radio Network, KSLU 90.9 FM, online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via both the Lions Gameday Experience and TuneIn Radio apps.
 
Fans can also keep up with all the action through live statistics or by following @SLUathletics on Twitter. Web links to audio, video and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
LIONS GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE APP
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.
 
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.
 
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.