TUCSON, Ariz. – Southeastern Louisiana scored six runs in the eighth inning, and threatened in the ninth, but ultimately came up short against No. 19-ranked Arizona, 13-11, Friday at Hi Corbett Field.
 
The Lions (3-2) scored a pair of runs in the first inning, taking an early lead over Arizona (4-2) falling behind and having to wipe out a sizeable deficit.
 
Evan Keller, Champ Artigues and Preston Faulkner open up the game with consecutive singles off Wildcat starting pitcher Chandler Murphy (1-0). Faulkner plated Keller and Artigues scored on Jacob Burke's one-out single to right field.
 
Arizona answered with three runs in the second innings and three runs in the third. Southeastern got a run back in the top of the fourth, but the Wildcats responded with six more runs in the bottom of the inning as they eventually chased starting pitcher Trey Shaffer (1-1) from the game.
 
Lion relievers locked down the Arizona bats, as Andrew Landry, Gage Trahan and Noah Hughes combined to allow one run the rest of the way.
 
Back-to-back doubles by Jacob Burke and Christian Garcia led to a run in the sixth. A wild pitch and a groundout off the bat of designated hitter Gaby Cruz plated Garcia with a second run.
 
The Wildcats used four different relievers in the eighth as Southeastern sent 11 batters to the plate, posting their own six-run inning.
 
Cruz reached on catcher's interference in the ninth and was sacrificed to second, but that was all the Lions could muster in their final at bat.
 
Murphy earned the win despite allowing five runs – four earned – in six innings pitched. The freshman right-hander surrendered nine hits and a pair of walks, striking out seven batters. He also threw three wild pitches. Vince Vanelle earned his second save of the season, allowing an inherited runner to score in 1.1 innings of work to close out the game.
 
Shaffer suffered the loss, allowing 10 runs – seven earned – in 3.2 innings pitched. He surrendered 10 hits and three walks, striking out four. He also hit a batter and threw a pair of wild pitches.
 
Burke was 4-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Garcia, Bryce Grizzaffi and Keller picked up two hits apiece for the Lions.
 
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. Junior right-hander Will Warren (1-0, 0.00) heads to the bump Saturday for the Lions opposite junior southpaw Garrett Irvin (0-0, 0.00) for Arizona.
 
Saturday's game can be heard in the Hammond area on the flagship station of the Southeastern Sports Radio Network – KSLU 90.9 FM – in addition to online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via both the Lions Gameday Experience and TuneIn Radio apps.
 
A video stream of the game will be broadcast through the Pac-12 Network Plus and the Pac-12 Now app, available for iOS and Android mobile devices as well as Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Chromecast.
 
Other options to follow the action include live statistics or the @LionUpBaseball Twitter account. Links to audio, video and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Baseball single-game tickets, for games during February and March, are currently on sale. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to minimize ticket lines on game days. Due to COVID-related capacity restrictions, single-game tickets are not currently available online.
 
A limited number of student tickets are available for each game and Southeastern students are encouraged to contact the ticket office prior to the game to reserve theirs in advance.
 
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 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays. The ticket booth at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field opens exactly one hour prior to the scheduled first pitch.

MOBILE TICKETING
Southeastern is implementing mobile ticketing as the primary method for securing tickets during the 2020-21 school year. Tickets will be available via text message or email in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet. 
 
GAMEDAY PARKING
Gameday parking during the 2021 season is $5 per day for Southeastern baseball, while football parking is $25 per day for most vehicles and $85 for RVs.
 
Fans can purchase a season pass ($105), individual reserved ($185) or RV parking spots ($225), good for all baseball and football games, by completing the form at www.LionSports.net/Parking and submitting it to the Lion Athletics Association.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics enforces a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. The policy mirrors safety precautions required for entrance to professional and collegiate sporting venues throughout the country. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/Clear.
 
SOCIAL DISTANCING ON GAMEDAYS
Proper social distancing techniques are required at all athletic events. Fans are asked to maintain a minimum distance of six feet from others, wear a face covering over both their nose and mouth, and wash their hands frequently. Hand sanitizing stations are located throughout Southeastern's athletic facilities.
 
While tailgating is currently prohibited, current health and safety guidelines set forth by state and local officials due to the COVID-19 pandemic allow for 25 percent capacity at athletic events. Capacity will be adjusted as state guidelines allow.
 
LIONS GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE APP
The 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 or by following the link www.LionSports.net/App.
 
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.