LAKE CHARLES, La. – A two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday capped off a McNeese rally, wiping out a five-run lead by the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team as the Cowboys held on for a 9-8 win in the opening game of a Southland Conference series at Joe Miller Ballpark.
 
Jake Killingsworth launched a three-run homer in the first inning, staking Southeastern (21-20, 3-10 SLC) to a 3-0 lead before McNeese (20-20, 4-9 SLC) ever came to the plate. It was Killingsworth's fourth home run of the season.
 
The Cowboys tied the game in the third on a two-out, bases-loaded double.
 
SLU responded in the fourth, regaining the lead on Ryan Brome's two-run single through the left side. The Lions then added three more runs in the fifth.
 
TJ Salvaggio led off the inning with a towering blast to left-center field. The solo shot was his team-leading ninth home run of the season, establishing a new career best for the junior from Slidell, Louisiana. An RBI single by Cole Stromboe and an RBI fielder's choice by Parker Coley pushed the SLU lead to five, 8-3, headed to the bottom of the fifth.
 
McNeese sent 10 batters to the plate and pushed across four runs to pull within striking distance, 8-7.
 
Ty Abraham (2-2) earned the win, tossing two scoreless innings in relief. Cameron LeJeune earned his fourth save of the season, also tossing a pair of scoreless innings. Larson Fabre (1-1) suffered the loss, allowing two runs in two innings of relief work.
 
Southeastern pounded out 12 hits in the game, reaching double digits for the third time in as many contests. Brome (3-for-5), Killingsworth (2-for-5), Salvaggio (2-for-5) and Stromboe (2-for-4) all turned in multi-hit performances at the plate.
 
UP NEXT
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. with TV coverage on ESPN+. SLU will send redshirt junior right-hander RHP Dakota Lee (0-3, 6.64) to the mound opposite Cowboy junior left-hander Alexis Gravel (0-3, 5.84).
 
Fans can listen to the game broadcasts 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.
 
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.