HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana mashed the ball on its way to a 12-3 win Friday over Sam Houston in the Southland Conference opener for both teams, pounding out 16 hits at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
Preston Faulkner enjoyed a 4-for-5 night at the plate, pounding out a pair of doubles and a two-run home run to help lead the Lions (8-4, 1-0 Southland) to their fifth-straight victory overall.
 
Nick Ray got all the scoring started with a two-out, solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. It was his first of the season and it put the Lions up, 1-0.
 
Sam Houston (3-7, 0-1 Southland) All-American outfielder Colton Cowser put the Bearkats on top, 2-1, in the top of the third with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to right field.
 
The Lions did not wait long to answer, scoring three in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead. Jacob Burke singled to lead off the inning and scored on the first of Faulkner's two doubles. Faulkner would later score on a Gaby Cruz single and designated Matt Taylor drove in the final run of the inning with a single.
 
A pair of Bearkat doubles in the fourth, cut the Southeastern lead to one. The Lions wasted little time adding to their lead, picking up three more runs in the bottom of the inning. Christian Garcia and Eli Johnson provided run-scoring singles in the fourth.
 
Faulkner's blast added two more runs in the fifth and his seventh-inning double keyed a two-run inning.
 
Will Kinzeler (2-1) earned the win, allowing three runs in 7.1 innings pitched. He scattered four hits and two walks, striking out nine batters. Bearkat starting pitcher Tyler Davis (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs – six earned – in 3.1 innings of work.
 
Every player in the Southeastern starting lineup reached base at least once and five players picked up multiple hits. Burke (4-for-5) and Faulkner both had four-hit performances while Cruz, Johnson and Taylor produced a pair of hits each.
 
UP NEXT
The series continues Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. The first game is slated to be a seven-inning contest. If the first game goes extra innings, the second game would then become a seven-inning affair.
 
Right-hander Will Warren (2-0, 0.00), also a junior, heads to the bump Saturday for the Lions opposite sophomore left-hander Matt Dillard (0-2, 7.84). Neither team has announced a starting pitcher for the second half of Saturday's doubleheader.
 
A limited supply of left-field general admission seats remains. Fans may purchase tickets online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets. Southeastern students are encouraged to contact the ticket office prior to the game to reserve theirs in advance. The ticket booth at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field opens exactly one hour prior to the scheduled first pitch.
 
The entire series 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.
 
Fans can watch a free video stream of the first three games using the Lions' Gameday Experience app for Android or iOS devices, the Southland Conference Digital Network app for smart TV devices (e.g., Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV and Roku) or online at www.LionSports.net/SSN.
 
Other options to follow the action this weekend 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.
 
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.
 
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.