FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team dropped a pair of games at No. 3-ranked Arkansas, 4-2 and 11-1, Saturday at Baum-Walker Stadium at George Cole Field.
 
SLU (5-7) rallied to tie up the first game in the sixth on a two-run home run by Preston Faulkner before the Razorbacks (7-3) hit a two-run homer of their own in the seventh, proving to be the difference in the contest.
 
The Lions cut a 2-0 deficit in half in the second game on Evan Keller's solo homer in the sixth, but Arkansas scored eight in the final two innings off the Southeastern bullpen.
 
SLU wraps up its four-game road trip Wednesday at 6 p.m. at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park in Ruston, Louisiana with a rematch against No. 25-ranked Louisiana Tech.
 
GAME ONE – Arkansas 4, SLU 2
The game started out as another pitcher's duel similar to the first half of the series opener.
 
Arkansas broke through in the third inning on a two-out, run-scoring double and added another two-out run in the fourth for a 2-0 lead.
 
SLU fought back to tie up the game in the sixth. Evan Keller drew a walk leading off the inning and was sacrificed to second. Preston Faulkner launched a two-out home run to deep left-center field. The two-run blast was his first of the season.
 
Trey Harrington worked out of a jam in the bottom half of the inning, but Arkansas catcher Michael Turner followed a one-out walk in the seventh with a line-drive home run to right.  
 
Razorback freshman Hagen Smith (2-1) earned the win, allowing two runs on two hits. He walks three and struck out nine batters. Brady Tygart tossed a scoreless ninth, earning his first save of the season. Harrington (0-2) suffered the loss, allowing two runs in three innings of relief work.
 
Faulkner, Bryce Grizzaffi and Shea Thomas had hits for Southeastern.
 
GAME TWO – Arkansas 11, SLU 1 (8 innings)
Arkansas took an early lead with a two-out run in the second inning, the earliest either team had scored in the series. The Razorbacks tacked on another run in the fourth.
 
The Lions cut the deficit in half in the sixth on a leadoff home run by Evan Keller. The solo shot was the first of the season for the native of Destrehan, Louisiana.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, the Razorbacks got the run back. Following a leadoff double and a wild pitch, second baseman Robert Moore scored on an infield single. Arkansas extended its lead in the seventh, 7-1, with four more runs off the Lion bullpen.
 
Razorback starting pitcher Jaxon Wiggins (2-0) earned the win, allowing one run in 6.1 innings pitched. He allowed two hits and issued four walks, striking out seven batters. SLU starter Hunter O'Toole (0-2) suffered the loss. The right-hander allowed four runs on eight hits in 6-plus innings, walking one and striking out five.
 
Keller had two of the Lions' three hits.
 
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.