NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team fell, 5-2, Sunday to Northwestern State in Southland Conference action at Brown-Stroud Field.
 
Northwestern State (21-22, 9-9 SLC) jumped out in front early, taking advantage of a Southeastern (19-25, 9-9 SLC) error to score three unearned runs in the first inning.
 
A sacrifice fly plated another Demon run in the second.
 
Hunter O'Toole took over on the mound for starter Andrew Landry with two outs in the third, striking out the first batter he faced to end the inning.
 
O'Toole, Daniel Dugas and Hayden Robb combined to quiet the Demon bats over the next four innings while SLU worked to get back in the ballgame.
 
Northwestern State starter Drayton Brown logged seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out seven batters.
 
The Lions broke through in the eighth off reliever Gus Collins. Evan Keller bounced a one-out single up the middle and Rhett Rosevear followed with a walk. Tyler Finke reached on a fielder's choice grounder that erased Rosevear at second. After Finke stole second base, Preston Faulkner pulled a two-run single into left-center field.
 
In the bottom of the inning, a solo home run by the Demons pushed the SLU deficit back to three.
 
The Lions put a pair on in the ninth, but failed to push across a run.
 
Brown (5-4) earned the win. Landry (2-5) suffered the loss, allowing four runs – one earned – in the 2.2 innings pitched.
 
Faulkner (2-for-3) turned in a multi-hit performance for Southeastern.
 
Southeastern sits two games back of first-place Houston Baptist, McNeese and Nicholls with two weekends remaining in the conference schedule.
 
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.
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern returns home for the final time during the 2022 regular season, May 6-8, hosting Houston Baptist in a three-game conference series at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. The series finale is a Cane's Challenge contest and will also include the annual Senior Day ceremony prior to the game.
 
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.