HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana split a Southland Conference doubleheader Friday with Nicholls, winning the opener, 3-1, and dropping the nightcap, 4-1, at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
The Lions (20-19, 11-6 Southland) pulled one game closer to conference-leading Sam Houston State (22-14, 14-6 Southland) with the win over Nicholls (19-19, 10-10 Southland) in the opener. Southeastern enters Saturday in second place in the Southland standings, 1.5 games in back of the Bearkats.
 
Corey Gaconi (5-2) tossed the fifth complete game of his career in the first game, scattering four hits and striking out a career-high 11 batters on the way to earning the win. The senior from Metairie, Louisiana, now ranks 10th all-time in innings pitched (267) and is tied for 10th with 38 career starts.
 
The series wraps up Saturday at 2 p.m. at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field in Thibodaux, Louisiana. 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 and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
GAME 1 – Southeastern 3, Nicholls 1
Gaconi, who fanned a career-high 11, started off the game by fanning the side in the first inning.
 
Locked into a pitchers' duel early, the Lions provided Gaconi with some runs support in the fourth. Sophomore third baseman Trey Harrington lined a solo home run just inside the right-field foul pole, leading off the inning with his second homer of the season.
 
Nicholls tied the game in the fifth with an unearned run. With two outs and a runner at first, Lion right fielder Nathan Pilutti dropped an easy fly ball down the line and the runner came all the way around to score.
 
Southeastern answered right back, regaining the lead in the bottom of the inning. Cody Grosse and Preston Faulkner opened up the frame with back-to-back singles. Colonel starting pitcher Shane Mejia (4-2) then issued a walk to Kyle Schimpf before exiting in favor of reliever Matthew Harrison. Nick Ray coaxed a walk out of Harrison to force in the go-ahead run. Faulkner scored on a play at the plate when the throw from the third baseman skipped past the catcher.
 
Gaconi locked down the Colonel bats the rest of the way, retiring the final 10 batters he faced to close out the game. Mejia suffered the loss, allowing three runs in four innings of work.
 
GAME 2 – Nicholls 4, Southeastern 1
Nicholls loaded the bases in each of the first three innings, but produced just one run. Lion starting pitcher Trey Shaffer (1-2) and reliever Bryce Tassin worked around base runners through the first five innings, stranding 11 in that stretch.
 
Colonel starting pitcher Trever Kilcrease (3-3) carried a no-hitter into the fourth before Harrington picked up a two-out single.
 
Another dropped fly ball allowed Nicholls to pad their tight lead in the sixth, picking up a pair of runs (one earned).
 
In the sixth, Harrington followed Kyle Schimpf walk with a single to center field, but the Lions left runners on the corners.
 
A leadoff triple in the eighth led to the Colonels' final run, scoring on a sacrifice fly.
 
Southeastern's lone run came in the ninth. Harrington drew a leadoff, advancing on a hit batter and a fielders' choice. He scored on a two-out balk by reliever Beau Balado.
 
Kilcrease earned the win, allowing just two hits in 6.1 scoreless innings. Shaffer was tagged with the loss, allowing one run in two innings of work.
 
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.