HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball program split a doubleheader Saturday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field, dropping the opening game, 6-3, to North Dakota State and winning the nightcap, 8-6.
 
Both proved to be tight ballgames between Southeastern (10-6) and the Bison (3-10). Game One was a pitcher's duel into the seventh inning and Game Two was back and forth for nearly the entire contest.
 
Jake Haze (3-for-9) and Shea Thomas (4-for-8) picked up hits in both halves of the doubleheader for the Lions.
 
SLU wraps up its weekend series against the Bison at 1 p.m. on ESPN+. Will Kinzeler (1-0, 10.12), a senior right-hander from Covington, Louisiana, earns the start on the mound in the series finale. He will be opposed by NDSU freshman right-hander Landon Koenig (0-2, 10.32).
 
Free general admission tickets are available each Sunday home game for active military members by presenting a valid service ID at the gate.
 
Fans can listen to the game broadcast in the Hammond area on 90.9 The Lion. In addition, an audio stream is available online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via the Lions Gameday Experience, TuneIn and MyTuner Radio apps. Both the TuneIn and MyTuner apps are compatible with the Apple CarPlay software available in most late-model automobiles. Search for KSLU 90.9 FM in the TuneIn app.
 
GAME ONE – NDSU 6, SLU 3
Thomas blasted a two-run, opposite-field home run in the bottom of the first inning, staking the Lions to an early lead. Following the homer, however, NDSU starting pitcher Nolan Johnson retired the next 14 batters as the Bison worked their way back into the game.
 
Solo home runs in the third and fifth innings tied up the contest. A four-run seventh pushed NDSU out in front to stay, 6-2.
 
Thomas doubled to lead off the bottom of the seventh, scoring on Haze's single to right field for the Lions' final run of the game.
 
Johnson (1-0) earned the win, allowing three runs in seven innings of work. He scattered four hits and one walk, striking out eight batters. Joey Danielson worked a perfect ninth to earn his first save of the season. Brennan Stuprich (1-2) suffered the loss, allowing four runs in 6.1 innings pitched.
 
GAME TWO – SLU 8, NDSU 6
NDSU jumped out in front first in the nightcap with a solo home run in the second inning.
 
Southeastern tied it up in the bottom of the inning. Thomas led off with a single to left. Rhett Rosevear was hit by a pitch, putting a pair aboard with no outs. TJ Salvaggio sacrificed both into scoring position and Thomas scored on a Cole Stromboe sac fly to left.
 
The Bison regained the lead in the third, manufacturing a run on a single, stolen base, groundout and a wild pitch.
 
SLU once again tied it up in the bottom of the inning. Haze ripped a one-out double to right field, scoring on Thomas' RBI single through the right side.
 
The Lions took the lead for the first time, 3-2, in the fourth. Salvaggio led off the inning with a double to right-center and then stole third base. He scored on Stromboe's second sac fly of the game, tying a program single-game record.
 
NDSU answered with three runs in the fifth, taking a 5-3 lead on a bases-loaded double by first baseman James Dunlap.
 
With the Bison reaching into their bullpen in the sixth, Southeastern erupted for five runs to regain the lead. Rosevear walked to open up the inning and Salvaggio followed up with his second double of the game. Conner O'Neal pulled an RBI single through the right side to plate Rosevear.
 
Salvaggio scored on a sac fly off the bat of pinch hitter Gray Rowlett. Jude Hall singled to put a pair aboard for Haze, who blasted the ball into the video board in left field for his first home run as a Lion.
 
NDSU added a run in the seventh, but that was as close as it would get.
 
Lakin Polk (3-0) earned the win, allowing one run in two innings of relief work. Jackson Rodriguez tossed two scoreless innings to close it out and earn his second save of the season. Leland Wilson suffered the loss, allowing five runs – all earned – in one inning pitched.
 
Salvaggio (3-for-3), Thomas (2-for-4) and Haze (2-for-5) turned in multi-hit performances at the plate.
 
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 before the game to reserve theirs in advance.
 
General admission tickets for most games are $11 for adults and $8 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 before 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 the 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.
 
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
Fans are encouraged to follow the Southeastern Baseball social media accounts (@LionUpBaseball) on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to stay engaged with the program.
 
The latest updates are also available at www.LionSports.net and the Lions Gameday Experience app. Available for both Android and iOS devices, the Gameday app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.