HAMMOND, La. – McNeese scored twice in the top of the ninth inning, holding on to defeat Southeastern Louisiana, 6-4, Thursday in the opening game of a Southland Conference series at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
The Cowboys (13-11, 7-5 Southland) put an end to the best start to a season at home in Southeastern (16-9, 9-4 Southland) history, snapping an 11-game home winning streak.
 
McNeese scored a pair of runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth, opening up a 3-0 lead halfway through the game.
 
Southeastern got a run back in the bottom of the fifth when Nick Ray launched a one-out, solo home run to left-center field. It was the redshirt sophomore's second homer of the season.
 
A leadoff single, a stolen base and a pair of groundouts were enough for McNeese to get that run back in the sixth, chasing Lion starting pitcher Will Kinzeler from the game.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Cowboy reliever Ty Abraham hit leadoff batter Jacob Burke with a pitch. Burke stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Christian Garcia worked a one-out walk, Tyler Finke single to center field, driving in Burke. Garcia, who went first to third on Finke's single, scored on a double steal.
 
The Lions tied the game in the seventh. Abraham walked Evan Keller to open up the inning. Keller scored on Burke's one-out triple into the left-center field gap off reliever Isaac Duplechein.
 
After taking over for Kinzeler in the sixth, redshirt senior Kyle Flettrich logged 2.1 scoreless innings in relief as the Lions came back to tie the game.
 
In the ninth, Southeastern reliever Noah Hughes walked the first two batters he faced after entering the game. A sacrifice bunt moved both into scoring position. After Hughes struck out Cowboy shortstop Reid Bourque for the second out of the inning. Clayton Rasbeary pulled a single up the middle, scoring both runners.
 
McNeese reliever Kevin Roliard (2-2) earned the win, retiring all five batters he faced. Hughes (1-2) suffered the loss, allowing two runs in one inning of work.
 
Burke (2-for-4) and Finke (2-for-3) each picked up a pair of hits in the game for the Lions.
 
UP NEXT
The series continues Friday with a doubleheader starting at 2 p.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.
 
Junior left-hander Trey Shaffer (1-1, 5.68) returns to the Lion rotation, drawing the starting assignment in the first game of Friday's doubleheader. McNeese will counter with its own southpaw, sophomore Will Dion (2-3, 4.09). Junior right-hander Will Warren (4-1, 2.41) heads to the bump for Southeastern in the second half of the doubleheader while the Cowboys plan to start senior left-hander Jonathan Ellison (1-0, 1.83).


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. All remaining Lion home baseball games are also slated for broadcast 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.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Baseball single-game tickets, for games during April, are currently on sale. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to minimize ticket lines on game days. 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.
 
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.