HAMMOND, La. – The No. 2-seeded Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team rallied to defeat No. 3-seeded New Orleans, 4-3, Sunday in 10 innings at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field, working its way back through the losers bracket to advance to the championship series of the Southland Conference Tournament.
 
After dropping their tournament opener Thursday evening to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the Lions (28-28) won four consecutive games over the next three days.
 
Southeastern fell behind, 2-0, in the second inning. Starting pitcher Lance Lauve issued a leadoff walk before Privateer third baseman Jeissy De la Cruz hit his fifth home run of the season.
 
The Lions cut the deficit in half almost immediately. Tyler Finke drew a leadoff walk in the bottom half of the inning. After stealing second base, he scored on Christian Garcia's one-out RBI single to left field.
 
UNO (30-23) extended its lead with an unearned run in the fourth.
 
SLU kept the offensive pressure on the entire game, putting runners on base in every inning.
 
The Lions pulled within a run in sixth on Connor Manola's second home run of the season. The solo shot to left was the 16^th of the tournament for Southeastern, establishing a new conference record.
 
Another run in the seventh tied the game. Finke drew a walk leading off the inning, his third free pass of the game. Pierce Leavengood followed with a single to right, sending Finke to third. When Leavengood stole second, the catcher's throw skipped into center field allowing Finke to score.
 
SLU relievers Hayden Robb, Dalton Aspholm and Gage Trahan turned in a pair of scoreless innings each in relief of Lauve, shutting down the Privateer bats.
 
In the 10^th, Rhett Rosevear singled up the middle. Preston Faulkner, who was intentionally walked in each of his two previous trips to the plate, followed with a hard ground ball to second. In an attempt to turn an inning-ending double play, second baseman Amani Larry recorded the out on Rosevear but his throw to first was wide of the bag.
 
With Shea Thomas at the plate, Faulkner stole second without a throw. It was the Lions' seventh steal of the game and 19^th of the tournament, blowing past the previous tournament records for both. Down 0-2 in the count, Thomas fouled off a pitch before working the count back even. He drove the next pitch from reliever Jack Williams down the right-field line for a double, plating Faulkner with the winning run.
 
The game-winning RBI was Thomas' 13^th of the tournament, also establishing a new conference record.
 
Trahan (4-3) earned the win, allowing one hit and one walk. He also struck out one. Williams (7-2) suffered the loss, surrendering one run in 2.2 innings pitched.
 
It was the sixth walk-off victory of the season for Southeastern and the 13^th time the Lions have rallied this year from a deficit in the fifth inning or later.
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern will face No. 1-seeded McNeese in the best-of-three tournament championship series, Thursday through Saturday, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. First pitch in each game is set for 6 p.m. at Joe Miller Ballpark.
 
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for youth (ages 3-12). Students from participating Southland Conference institutions, with a valid university ID, and children under age 2 are admitted for free.
 
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.
 
HAMMOND BRACKET SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Game 1 – No. 3 New Orleans 10, No. 6 HBU 3
Game 2 – No. 7 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6, No. 2 Southeastern 5
 
Friday, May 20, 2022
Game 3 – No. 2 Southeastern 12, N. 6 HBU 4
Game 4 – No. 3 New Orleans 10, No. 7 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 9
 
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Game 5 – No. 2 Southeastern 18, No. 7 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 11
Game 6 – No. 2 Southeastern 25, No. 3 New Orleans 4
 
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Game 7 – No. 2 Southeastern 4, No. 3 New Orleans 3 (10 innings)