HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team defeated Samford, 6-5, Friday in the series opener at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
Off to their best start to open a season since 2012 when they won their first seven, the Lions (6-0) are now undefeated through six games to begin the 2023 season.
 
A pair of Samford (2-3) runs in the first put Southeastern down early.
 
Jake Killingsworth helped cut the lead in half in the second. The junior designated hitter lined a ball to right field that rolled to the wall after the Bulldog outfielder slipped and fell. Killingsworth wound up at third base, eventually coming home to score on a wild pitch.
 
SLU tied the game, 2-2, in the third. Tyler Finke was hit by a one-out pitch and then stole second base, one of two stolen bases he would have in the game. He came home to score on a Killingsworth single to left field.
 
The Bulldogs jumped back ahead on an RBI double in the fourth and a two-run home run in the fifth, forcing another Southeastern comeback.
 
Shea Thomas cut into the Samford lead with a solo home run to left-center field leading off the fifth. The laser shot was his first of the season.
 
TJ Salvaggio started the three-run rally in the sixth that put the Lions back out in front for good. The sophomore from Slidell, Louisiana drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on Bryce Grizzaffi's single to left. Grizzaffi took an extra bag on the throw to third.
 
Rhett Rosevear was hit by a pitch to load the bases and chase Bulldog starting pitcher Jacob Cravey (0-1) from the game. Reliever Brody Westbrooks walked Finke to force in a run before uncorking a wild pitch that allowed Grizzaffi to score the tying run.
 
Thomas followed with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Rosevear with the go-ahead run.
 
The Lion bullpen was lights out, firing four shutout innings in relief of starter Brennan Stuprich. Hunter O'Toole (1-0), Jackson Rodriguez, Hayden Robb and Dalton Aspholm tossed one inning apiece, combining to strike out seven batters.
 
O'Toole earned the win and Aspholm, who fanned three, earned his second save of the season. Cravey suffered the loss.
 
Killingsworth was the only Lion hitter with a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 at the plate, and Thomas drove in a pair.
 
Finke moved into fourth place on Southeastern's career stolen base chart with 65 steals, bypassing both Andy Davis (1973-76) and Drew Avans (2015-18) who had 64 each in their careers. He is now seven stolen bases shy of breaking the program's career record held by Melvin Meyers (1985-88).
 
Rosevear, who was hit by a pitch twice in the game, leads the nation with eight HBPs.
 
UP NEXT
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. when fans can play the popular Baseball Bingo game. Junior right-hander Will Kinzeler (1-0, 0.00) draws the starting assignment Saturday for SLU opposite Michael Ross. The Bulldog right-hander is slated to make his first appearance of the season.
 
TICKET & PARKING INFORMATION
Single-game tickets are now on sale. 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 for most games are $9 for adults and $6 for youth (ages 3-12). Southeastern students, with a university ID, and children under age 2 are admitted for 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 Cate Street Seafood Station, 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 both the Lions Gameday Experience or TuneIn apps. The TuneIn 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.