NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team scored four runs in the ninth inning Friday, rallying for a 6-4 win over Northwestern State in Southland Conference play at Brown-Stroud Field.
 
After squeezing home a run in the seventh, the Demons (20-21, 8-8 SLC) handed over a 4-1 lead to the bullpen. SLU (18-24, 8-8 SLC) went right to work against reliever Gus Collins.
 
Evan Keller led off the eighth with a double to left field. With one out, he stole third base. Preston Faulkner, who homered earlier in the game, drove in Keller with a two-out single to right field.
 
Champ Artigues led off the ninth with a double inside the first-base bag. He scored on Bryce Grizzaffi's one-out double down the left-field line, chasing Collins from the game. Keller drew a walk from reliever Dawson Flowers. A passed ball moved both Grizzaffi and Keller into scoring position.
 
Rhett Rosevear worked a walk from reliever Andrew Cossio and Tyler Finke followed with a two-run single through the right side, giving the Lions the lead. After issuing an intentional walk to Faulkner, Shea Thomas drove a sacrifice fly to the wall in left-center for another run.
 
Gage Trahan worked a scoreless ninth, stranding a runner at third to end the game.
 
Early runs in the game, two in the first inning by the Demons and one by both clubs in the fourth, were all on solo home runs. Faulkner's blast in the fourth was his Southland-leading 12^th of the season, giving him 32 in his career. He is now in sole possession of third place on Southeastern's all-time home run chart, one back of Jeremy Gross (1997-98).
 
Hayden Robb (3-3) earned the win in relief, tossing a scoreless eighth inning. He allowed one hit and struck out one. Trahan picked up his sixth save of the season, fanning the final batter of the game. Flowers (0-2) was tagged with the loss, walking the first batter he faced and exiting the game with a 2-0 count on the next.
 
Faulkner (2-for-4), Finke (2-for-5), Grizzaffi (2-for-4) and Keller (2-for-4) all turned in multi-hit performances for the Lions.
 
UP NEXT
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. Freshman left-hander Adam Guth (1-1, 5.56) takes the ball Saturday for SLU against Demon junior right-hander Jonathan Harmon (5-4, 2.98). Harmon leads the Southland in innings pitched (63.1) while ranking second in both wins and ERA.
 
Fans in the Hammond area can listen to the game broadcast 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 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).
 
A video stream of the game is also available.
 
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 by 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.