CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi defeated Southeastern Louisiana, 10-6, Saturday in Southland Conference action at Chapman Field.
 
Southeastern (28-20, 20-15 SLC) scored a pair of runs each in the third and fourth innings, building a 4-1 lead over the Islanders (24-27, 20-14 SLC).
 
Both starting pitchers retired the first six batters they faced in the game.
 
Leading off the third, senior catcher Gaby Cruz pulled a double inside the third-base bag. After Eli Johnson walked, Joe Delaney pushed a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher. Hayden Thomas (4-3), the A&M-Corpus Christi starter, bobbled the ball and Delaney reached safely to load the bases with no outs.
 
Thomas hit Rhett Rosevear with a pitch, forcing in the first run of the game. Evan Keller plated a second run with a one-out sacrifice bunt.
 
The Islanders cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning. Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly by third baseman Itchy Burts plated the run.
 
Back-to-back singles by Jacob Burke and Cruz put runners on the corners with one out in the fourth. After Cruz stole second base, Delaney delivered a single up the middle to drive home both runners.
 
Three doubles and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning led to a pair of runs for A&M-Corpus Christi, pulling back within one.
 
The Islanders got to Southeastern starting pitcher Will Kinzeler (4-4) for three consecutive hits to open up the sixth, leading to three runs and the lead for A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
Three more runs in the seventh and solo home run in the eighth completed the scoring for the Islanders.
 
Southeastern refused to go quietly in the ninth. Rosevear singled to left leading off the inning and Tyler Finke followed with a double to left-center field. Keller drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly and Finke score on Preston Faulkner's grounder to the shortstop.
 
Thomas earned the win, allowing four runs – three earned – in seven innings of work. Kinzeler suffered the loss, allowing six runs – four earned in five innings pitched.
 
Cruz (2-for-3), Finke (2-for-5) and Rosevear (2-for-4) each picked up a pair of hits for the Lions.
 
UP NEXT
The series concludes with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m. A&M-Corpus Christi has not announced a starting pitcher for Sunday's series finale. The Lions will go with senior right-hander Noah Hughes (1-3, 4.86).
 
The series finale 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 – produced by A&M-Corpus Christi – will be available both online as well as through the Southland Conference Digital Network app for smart TVs and mobile devices.
 
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.
 
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT TICKET INFORMATION
General Admission booklets, allowing admission to every game of the tournament, are $100 for adults and $50 for youths ages 3-12. Students presenting a valid ID from a current Southland Conference institution, and children under the age of three, will be admitted free of charge.
 
For each day of the baseball tournament, any remaining tickets will be sold for the morning session (first two games) or afternoon session (last two games). The ballpark will be cleared between sessions and re-entry is not allowed.
 
Session ticket prices are: $21 (box seats, as available), $17 (chairback seats, as available), $13 (general admission adults) and $9 (general admission youth – ages 3-12).
 
The double-elimination tournament, scheduled for May 26-29 at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field, will feature the league's top eight teams and concludes with a winner-take-all championship game May 29 at 6 p.m. CT. The winner of the tournament will receive the Southland's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. All games will be broadcast on ESPN+.

MOBILE TICKETING
Southeastern implemented 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 regular season is $5 per day for standard vehicles and $35 (full weekend) for RVs.
 
Single-day parking during the 2021 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament, presented by GeoSurfaces, is $5 for most vehicles. An All-Tournament parking pass is available for $20 for standard vehicles and $50 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
Southeastern, which is following state and local health guidelines for outdoor events set forth by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, has returned to 100 percent capacity at all athletic events. Fans are asked to maintain a comfortable distance from others when possible, 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.
 
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.