SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team hung on in a Sunday slugfest, 12-11, to finish off a sweep of UIW in Southland Conference action at Sullivan Field.
 
One day after rapping out a season-high 20 hits, Southeastern (26-24, 8-13 SLC) pounded out 16 hits and three more home runs. With 72 total homers this season, the 2024 Lions rank fourth on the program's single-season leaderboard behind the 1997 (83), 1998 (83) and 1999 (73) squads.
 
With the win over the Cardinals (24-26, 9-12, SLC), SLU remains ahead of HCU (16-30, 7-14 SLC) for eighth place in the conference standings. SLU also moved within one game of fifth place. Three teams – Northwestern State (19-31, 10-13), UIW and upcoming opponent Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (21-30, 9-12 SLC) – are tied for fifth place, sitting just one game ahead of SLU with three games remaining.
 
The top eight teams in the conference standings qualify for the Southland's postseason tournament. The 2024 North Oaks Health System Southland Conference Baseball Championship is set to be held, May 22-25, at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field on the Southeastern campus in Hammond, Louisiana.
 
Southeastern struck first in the series finale, lacing five singles in the third inning on the way to plating three runs. Ryan Brome, Shea Thomas and Jake Haze all delivered run-scoring base knocks.
 
UIW scored a run in the bottom of the inning without the benefit of a hit.
 
The Lions responded with a two-run homer off the bat of Jude Hall in the fourth. It was the seventh of the season for Hall and his second in as many games.
 
A two-run homer in the bottom of the inning pulled UIW back within a pair, 5-3.
 
SLU exploded for five runs in the fifth. Thomas launched a two-run homer and Haze followed up with a solo shot. It marked the second time the Lions had gone back-to-back in as many games. Thomas' opposite-field shot was his ninth of the season. Haze's second homer of the weekend was his fourth of the season.
 
Five batters later, Parker Coley pulled a two-run double to left to extend the Lions' lead to 10-3 over UIW.
 
RBI singles by Cole Stromboe and Brome in the seventh finished off the SLU run production.
 
The Cardinals started chipping away at the deficit in the bottom of the inning. A grand slam by UIW designated hitter Dalton Beck was his conference-leading 16^th of the season. A solo homer followed two batters later.
 
Southeastern reliever Larson Fabre retired the side in order in the eighth, but the Cardinals still had life. A three-run homer in the ninth, pulled UIW within one before redshirt freshman Carson Robb came on to get the final out for his first career save.
 
Lakin Polk earned the win, tossing 2.2 innings in relief. UIW starting pitcher Micah Berens (1-3) suffered the loss, allowing five runs – all earned – in his three-inning stint.
 
Thomas (3-for-5), Hall (3-for-4), Brome (2-for-5), Coley (2-for-6), Haze (2-for-5) and Stromboe (2-for-5) all turned in muti-hit performances at the plate for SLU. Hall scored four runs, becoming the first Lion since Rhett Rosevear on Feb. 21, 2023, to accomplish the feat.
 
RADIO SHOW
The next episode of Inside Southeastern Baseball with Bobby Barbier airs live Monday at 5 p.m. from WiseGuys Daiquiris in Hammond. Barbier joins co-host Allen Waddell for the 60-minute radio show, talking about the latest in Southeastern baseball.
 
It can be heard locally on 90.9 The Lion (KSLU-FM), via the Lions Gameday Experience, TuneIn and MyTuner Radio apps, as well as online at either www.LionSports.net/listenlive or LionUpRadio.org. Both the TuneIn and MyTuner Radio apps are compatible with the Apple CarPlay software available in most modern automobiles.
 
WiseGuys Daiquiris is located at 14372 University Ave. and features a full bar, daiquiris, lots of TVs to watch all your favorite sports events along with a kitchen serving appetizers and pizza.
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern returns home for the final four games of the 2024 regular season. The Lions kick off the homestand at 6 p.m. Tuesday, hosting South Alabama in their final non-conference action for $2 Tuesday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. General admission tickets, purchased at the ballpark, and hot dogs are both $2 while kids (12 & under) will have the opportunity to stand next to their favorite SLU player during the National Anthem.
 
It's also Jimmy Buffett Night. Fans are encouraged to wear their best Hawaiian shirt and enjoy the laid-back vibes at the ballpark.
 
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.