NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Big innings powered Southeastern Louisiana to an 11-3 Southland Conference win Saturday over Stephen F. Austin at Jaycees Field.
 
The Lions took the lead with a pair of runs in the second inning, adding five in the fifth and four more runs in the ninth.
 
Southeastern (14-12, 6-2 Southland) claimed the series and extended its winning streak to eight, both overall and in the series against SFA (13-15, 7-4 Southland). The win also keeps the Lions in first place in the Southland (based on conference winning percentage) pending the outcome of Saturday's McNeese-Sam Houston State contest in Huntsville, Texas.
 
Back-to-back-to-back two-out singles started the Lions' first rally. Connor Manola kept the inning alive with a single up the middle. Eli Johnson singled to right, sending Manola to third, and took the extra base when the throw back in wound up loose on the infield. Nathan Pilutti lined a single up the middle to plate both Manola and Johnson.
 
Right-hander Mason Knopp kept the Lumberjacks at bay until the fourth. SFA third baseman Manny Vasquez worked a walk leading off the inning, later going first to third on a one-out single. Vasquez scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of left fielder Jared Martin.
 
The Lions responded with a big inning. Pilutti, Bryce Steckler, Brennan Breaud and Preston Faulkner all churned out singles to open up the fifth, plating a run. Kyle Schimpf then cleared the bases with a grand slam to right-center field, chasing Lumberjack starting pitcher Jaxon Covington from the game. 
 
SFA scored a run in the bottom of the inning, chasing Knopp from the contest. Kade Granier, who took over for Knopp, continued to stymie the Lumberjack bats until the eighth.
 
After sandwiching a pair of walks around a single to open the eighth, Granier handed the ball over to right-hander Grant Upton. The freshman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, struck out the first two batters he faced before yielding an RBI single through the right side. Limiting the damage, Upton got a ground out to end the inning.
 
Southeastern responded with another big inning. Steckler worked a one-out walk in the ninth. Brennan Breaud singled to left and, after the ball broke free, both runners advanced into scoring position. A wild pitch plated Steckler and moved Breaud over to third. Faulkner drove in Breaud with a triple to right-center. Trey Harrington drove in Faulkner with a two-out double, chasing reliever Austin Hearn. Nick Ray wrapped up the scoring, greeting reliever Tony Grabowske with a triple down the right-field line.
 
Knopp (2-1) earned the win, scattering three hits, three walks and three strikeouts. He surrendered a pair of runs in 4.2 innings. Covington (3-2) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs in four innings pitched.
 
Breaud (2-for-5), Faulkner (2-for-4), Pilutti (2-for-4), Ray (2-for-5) and Steckler (2-for-2) all turned in multihit games at the plate.
 
Sunday at 1 p.m., the Lions will counter SFA junior southpaw Jacob Stobart (3-1, 4.35) with sophomore righty Will Warren (2-2, 6.98) as the series wraps up.
 
The series finale 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.