NEW ORLEANS, La. – Southeastern Louisiana dropped a Southland Conference doubleheader Saturday at Maestri Field, 8-4 (7 innings) and 11-3, as New Orleans claimed the Pontchartrain Bowl rivalry series for just the second time in six seasons.
 
With the doubleheader sweep, the Privateers (23-16, 18-9 SLC) also moved past Southeastern (24-15, 17-10 SLC) into first place in the conference standings. The Lions currently sit in second place, one game behind UNO.
 
The series wraps up with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m. While UNO has not named a starting pitcher for the series finale, the Lions plan to start freshman right-hander Brennan Stuprich (4-1, 3.00).
 
Sunday'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.
 
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 ONE – New Orleans 8, Southeastern 4 (7 innings)
Back-to-back, two-out singles by Evan Keller and Tyler Finke in the third inning helped produce the first run of the game, but UNO wiped out an early 1-0 Lion lead with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
 
The Privateers sent eight batters to the plate in the fifth, tacking on five more runs.
 
Southeastern was able to claw back into the game in the sixth. Christian Garcia laced a one-out single to left field, scoring from first base on Preston Faulkner's double into the left-center field gap. Jacob Burke cleaned up with his fifth home run of the season, following up the double with a towering two-run shot to left.
 
UNO starting pitcher Chris Turpin (7-1) tossed a complete game, striking out seven on his way to earning the win. Trey Shaffer (2-3) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs in 4.1 innings pitched.
 
Garcia (2-for-3) turned in a multi-hit effort in the opening game.
 
GAME TWO – New Orleans 11, Southeastern 3
A three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning put the Privateers out in front early in the second game. They added another run in the second before Southeastern broke onto the scoreboard.
 
Keller led off the third with a single up the middle before stealing second base. Finke followed with a line-drive double off the top of the left-field wall, putting a pair of runners in scoring position. Keller scored on Garcia's RBI groundout and Faulkner plated Finke with an RBI single to center.
 
UNO added single runs in the fourth and sixth before batting around in the seventh against four Lion relievers, scoring five runs.
 
Southeastern added a run in the ninth. Bryce Grizzaffi led off the inning with a single to left before advancing to second on a wild pitch. He scored on Faulkner's two-out RBI single.
 
Privateer starting pitcher Brandon Mitchell (3-1) earned the win, allowing two runs in 6.1 innings pitched. Caleb Seroski earned his seventh save of the season, and second of the series, working the final 2.2 innings. Will Kinzeler (4-2) suffered the loss, allowing six runs – five earned – in 5.2 innings of work.
 
Faulkner (3-for-5), Finke (2-for-4), Grizzaffi (2-for-4) and Keller (2-for-4) all picked up multiple hits for the Lions.
 
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.