HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana extended its winning streak to seven consecutive, sweeping a Southland Conference doubleheader from Sam Houston in walk-off fashion, 3-2 in seven innings and 7-6, Saturday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
The wins give the Lions (10-4, 3-0 Southland) the series victory over the conference preseason favorite Bearkats (3-9, 0-3 Southland) and put Southeastern atop the Southland standings heading into the final game of the opening series.
 
Southeastern wraps up the series Sunday at 1 p.m. The Bearkats are also undecided on a starter for Sunday's series finale while Southeastern plans to start freshman right-hander Brennan Stuprich (0-0, 2.70).
 
A limited supply of left-field general admission seats remains for the series against the Bearkats (3-6, 0-0 Southland). 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 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.
 
Sunday's series finale will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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.
 
GAME 1 – Southeastern 3, Sam Houston 2 (7 innings)
Sam Houston scored a pair of runs in the first inning and Bearkat starting pitcher Matt Dillard made the lead stand up for six innings.
 
After allowing a one-out walk in the first inning, followed by a double and a two-run single, Will Warren retired the remaining 20 batters he faced in the game.
 
The Lions finally broke through against Dillard in sixth. Jacob Burke drew a leadoff walk and advanced all the way to third on a pair of wild pitches. Burke scored on Christian Garcia's one-out double to left-center field.
 
Alex Havlicek replaced Dillard to get the final out of the inning but struggled with his control in the seventh. The right-hander hit pinch-hitter Rhett Rosevear with a pitch leading off the inning. Pinch-runner Brandon Hale advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Evan Keller beat out a bunt single, advancing Hale to third.
 
Champ Artigues plated Hale on a sacrifice bunt to tie the game before the Bearkats intentionally walked Burke to set up a force. Havlicek then hit Preston Faulkner with a pitch to load the bases. After Keller was erased at the plate on a fielder's choice, Havlicek hit Eli Johnson with a pitch to force in the winning run.
 
Warren (3-0) earned the win, tossing a complete game. The junior right-hander from Brandon, Mississippi scattered two hits and one walk, striking out nine batters. The two runs he allowed in the first were the first earned runs he had allowed this season, a string of 19.1 innings.
 
 
GAME 2 – Southeastern 7, Sam Houston 6
The Lions slowly built a 3-0 lead, picking up single runs in the first, second and sixth innings.
 
Keller led off the first with a double off the left-field wall, coming home to score on Johnson's single to center field.
 
In the second, catcher Gaby Cruz worked a leadoff walk and stole second base. After advancing to third on a Champ Artigues single, Cruz scored on a Tyler Finke sacrifice bunt.
 
Southeastern starting pitcher Kyle Bartley worked four scoreless innings before handing the ball over to the bullpen.
 
The Lions added what appeared to be an insurance run in the sixth. Faulkner lined a one-out single to left field. He advanced to second as Garcia reached on a muffed throw by the first baseman. A wild pitch allowed both runners to move into scoring position. Faulkner scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Cruz.
 
Sam Houston broke through against the Lion bullpen in the seventh with a two-run single by pinch-hitter Corbin Vines. The Bearkats picked up the tying run on a throwing error that should have ended the inning.
 
The Lions regained the lead with three runs in the eighth. Johnson ripped a double down the left-field line leading off the inning before reliever Coltin Atkinson hit Burke with a pitch. Faulkner followed with an RBI single through the right side, driving in Johnson. Burke scored on Garcia's infield single. Faulkner advanced to third on a Cruz fly out and then scored on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of pinch-hitter Nathan Tribble.
 
The lead was short-lived as the Bearkats tied the game with a two-out, three-run home run in the ninth.
 
Southeastern answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Keller lined a one-out double toward the right-field corner and promptly stole third. He scored when Johnson followed with an RBI single to left.
 
Cole Hoskins (1-0) picked up the win, retiring the only batter he faced. Lance Lusk (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing one run on two hits in one-third of an inning.
 
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.