HOUSTON, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team swept a Southland Conference doubleheader Friday at Rice's Reckling Park, 5-4 and 9-5, against Houston Christian.
 
Southeastern (21-25, 6-14 SLC) snapped a seven-game skid and momentarily kept its postseason hopes alive, taking the first two games of the series against the Huskies (11-34, 7-13 SLC).
 
Seven different Lion players finished the day with multiple hits in at least one of the two games, including TJ Salvaggio who produced a pair of hits in both ends of the doubleheader.
 
The series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Husky Field on the campus of HCU. There is no streaming audio and no ESPN+ broadcast.
 
Fans around Hammond, Louisiana can listen to the game on KSLU 90.9 FM. Live stats will be available online at www.LionSports.net and in the Lions Gameday Experience app. Fans can also receive in-game updates on Twitter by following the @LionUpBaseball account.
 
GAME 1 – SLU 5, HCU 4
Southeastern fell behind early as the Huskies plated single runs in both the first and second innings off starting pitcher Will Kinzeler.
 
Salvaggio got the Lion offense going with a one-out single in the third. After stealing second, he scored on Rhett Rosevear's two-out single. Tyler Finke followed with his fourth home run of the season, putting the Lions up, 3-2.
 
A solo homer leading off the bottom of the inning for HCU tied the game.
 
The Lions regained the lead for good in the fifth. Salvaggio got it started once again with a one-out single. He advanced to second on a groundout and scored on Rosevear's second RBI single of the game. Taking second on the throw, Rosevear would eventually score on Finke's RBI single to center field.
 
HCU pulled within a run in the bottom of the inning on another solo home run.
 
Kinzeler (5-1) earned the win, establishing a new career-high for the junior right-hander from Covington, Louisiana. He tossed six innings, allowing four runs – all earned – on nine hits. He walked three and struck out two.
 
Connor Spencer earned his first save of the season, getting the only batter he faced to ground into a game-ending double play.
 
Junior reliever Jackson Rodriguez bridged the gap for the Lions with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.
 
HCU starting pitcher Rye Gunter (1-4) suffered the loss, allowing five runs – all earned – in seven innings of work. He scattered six hits and one walk, striking out five.
 
Finke, Rosevear and Salvaggio all contributed a pair of hits each for SLU.
 
GAME 2 – SLU 9, HCU 5
Southeastern rode the momentum from the opening game victory to a hot offensive start in the second game.
 
With one out in the first, Finke was hit by a pitch and then stole second base. It was his 30^th steal of the season, putting him six away from tying the program's single-season record (36) held by Brock Hebert. He scored on a two-out, RBI single by catcher Michael Curry.
 
Salvaggio followed with a single. Both Curry and Salvaggio scored on Champ Artigues' two-run double over the head of the right fielder, putting the Lions up, 3-0, before HCU came to the plate.
 
Two more runs in the second chased Huskies' starting pitcher Chad Ricker from the game.
 
A solo homer in the third put HCU on the board, but the Lions answered back with a run in the fourth to go back up by five.
 
The game tightened up in the fifth. A bases-loaded triple by Husky left fielder Dylan LaRue brought the potential tying run to the plate with one out. An RBI single to center brought LaRue home, cutting the Lions' lead to 6-5.
 
After the bullpens quieted down the bats, SLU broke through in the eighth with three insurance runs. A pair of RBI, infield singles by Jake Killingsworth and Clay Cook expanded the lead. Rosevear drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the final run.
 
Brennan Stuprich (4-5) earned the win, allowing five runs – all earned – in five innings pitched. He surrendered 10 hits and two walks, striking out three.
 
Adam Guth picked up his first save of the season, tossing four scoreless innings to close it out. He walked the first batter he faced and, with the aid of a double play, retired the final 11 batters of the game. Guth struck out three.
 
Ricker (4-3) suffered the loss, allowing five runs – three earned – in 1.2 innings of work.
 
Artigues (3-for-4), Cook (2-for-4), Curry (2-for-5), Killingsworth (2-for-4) and Salvaggio (2-for-5) all turned in multiple hits for the Lions.  
 
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.