HAMMOND, La. – A pair of big innings powered the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team to a series-clinching victory, 8-2, Saturday over Tennessee Tech in non-conference action at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
Southeastern (7-8) scored four runs in both the first and seventh innings, holding on for its second win in as many days over the Golden Eagles (10-3).
 
Tennessee Tech starting pitcher Carter Gannaway hit the first two batters he faced and ultimately would not survive the first. After putting Rhett Rosevear and Bryce Grizzaffi on base, Gannaway retired Evan Keller on a sacrifice bunt.
 
With a pair of runners in scoring position, Preston Faulkner doubled over the head of the right fielder to plate both Rosevear and Grizzaffi. Connor Manola followed with an RBI double down the first-base line. A Champ Artigues single put runners on the corners. Gannaway was pulled after falling behind, 2-0, on Christian Garcia.
 
Manola scored on a balk when reliever Frankie Cresta, who inherited both the runners and the count on the batter, faked a pickoff attempt to first base.
 
Tennessee Tech, which scored single runs in both the seventh and ninth, put together its biggest threat of the game in the fifth. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases with one out on three consecutive singles, but SLU starting pitcher Hunter O'Toole fanned both the third- and fourth-place hitters to escape the jam.
 
O'Toole tossed six scoreless innings, keeping the potent Golden Eagle offense from attempting a comeback.
 
The Lions expanded their lead in the seventh. Reliever Colt Tyler, who had worked 2.1 scoreless innings to that point, walked Rosevear to open up the inning. Daniel Holley, the fourth Tennessee Tech pitcher of the game, surrendered a single to Grizzaffi and walked Keller to load the bases. Holley's final pitch, a breaking ball, hit Faulkner in the foot to force in a run.
 
Manola greeted reliever Logan Hewitt with a single through the left side, driving home both Grizzaffi and Keller. Faulkner and Manola both took an extra base when the throw home rolled to the backstop. Faulkner later scored on Christian Garcia's sacrifice fly to left-center field.
 
O'Toole (1-2) earned his first win of the season, scattering six hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out seven. Relievers Daniel Dugas and Alex Potter finished off the final three innings for the Lions. Gannaway (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing four runs while recording just one out in the starting role.
 
Manola picked up a pair of hits for the Lions while both he and Faulkner drove in three runs each.
 
UP NEXT
The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN+. Southeastern will start redshirt junior right-hander Hayden Robb (0-0, 4.20). The Golden Eagles have not announced a starting pitcher for the series finale.
 
Fans can listen online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via both the Lions Gameday Experience, Mixlr and MyTuner Radio apps. The MyTuner app is compatible with the Apple CarPlay software available in most late model automobiles. Fans should search for SLU Athletics (Mixlr) or Southeastern Sports Radio Network (MyTuner).
 
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.
 
TICKET & PARKING INFORMATION
Single-game tickets are on sale for the remainder of the regular season. 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.
 
General admission tickets are $9 for adults and $6 for youth (ages 3-12). Southeastern students, with a university ID, and children under age 2 are admitted free. Gameday parking is $5 per day for standard vehicles and $25 for RVs.
 
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.

Southeastern uses mobile ticketing as the primary method for distributing tickets purchased online. 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. 
 
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.
 
RADIO SHOW
The next episode of Inside Southeastern Baseball with Matt Riser, presented by Pour House Pizza and Beer Garden, is slated for Monday at 12 p.m. from the restaurant in downtown Hammond. Fans can listen to every show online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via the Lions Gameday Experience, MyTuner Radio or Mixlr apps. The MyTuner Radio app is compatible with the Apple CarPlay software available in most newer automobiles.
 
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.