NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Locked in a pitchers' duel for the second time in as many games, Southeastern Louisiana broke the game open late for a 5-1 win in the series opener Friday at Southland Conference-leading Stephen F. Austin.
 
Southeastern (13-12, 5-2 Southland) extended its winning streak to seven straight overall and against the Lumberjacks (13-14, 7-3 Southland).
 
Cody Grosse helped stake the Lions to an early lead. After leading off the game with a single through the right side, he stole second base. Grosse scored on a Kyle Schimpf's one-out sacrifice fly to left-center field.
 
SFA tied up the game in the second inning with a run off Corey Gaconi. Lumberjack third baseman Manny Vasquez doubled to left leading off the inning, advancing to third on Sean Moore's single up the middle. Vaquez scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jordan Monacy.
 
Gaconi and SFA starting pitcher Alex Palmer proceeded to lock down the bats over the next several innings. Following Moore's second-inning single, Gaconi retired the next 16 batters until Vasquez doubled again with one out in the seventh. By that time, though, Southeastern had regained the lead.
 
Brennan Breaud led off the seventh with a single to right field. Nick Ray, the reigning Southland Conference Hitter of the Week, followed with a double to right-center. Breaud scored what proved to be the winning run on a groundout by Nathan Pilutti.
 
As Connor Manola worked a walk, Ray stole third. He later scored on Bryce Steckler's groundout to third. Manola, who advanced to second on the Steckler's grounder, scored on Grosse's two-out single to left-center.
 
The Lions added an insurance run in the ninth and Bryce Tassin worked a scoreless ninth to close out the game.
 
Gaconi (3-2) earned the win, scattering five hits and one run over eight innings. The senior from Metairie, Louisiana, struck out seven and did not walk a batter. Palmer (3-2) suffered the loss, allowing four runs in 6.2 innings pitched.
 
Grosse (2-for-5), Ray (2-for-4) and Schimpf (2-for-4) each enjoyed multihit nights at the plate.
 
The series resumes Saturday at 1 p.m., one hour earlier than initially scheduled. Southeastern will start senior right-hander Mason Knopp (1-1, 3.10) opposite Lumberjack freshman left-hander Jaxon Covington (3-1, 3.51).
 
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 streaming video (provided b SFA), live statistics or by following @SLUathletics on Twitter. Web links to audio and video broadcast, stats, promotions and tickets 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.