HAMMOND, La. – Conner O'Neal launched his second home run of the game Sunday in the bottom of the tenth inning as the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team walked off with a 6-5 win over Northwestern State in Southland Conference action, sweeping the series against the Demons at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
O'Neal's power display capped a back-and-forth affair between Southeastern (10-2, 3-0 SLC) and NSU (4-7, 0-3 SLC) in the series finale.
 
The Demons struck first, scoring three with two outs in the third inning. In a five batter span, NSU singled, walked, singled (RBI), walked and singled (2 RBI) against a pair of Lion pitchers.
 
Much as they did Saturday, SLU answered immediately. Ben Robichaux led off the bottom of the inning with a double to right field. One out later, Dane Watts ripped an RBI double to score Robichaux. After Watts was picked off, Ryan Brome and TJ Salvaggio drew back-to-back walks. O'Neal popped the ball out to shallow center, but the Demon shortstop dropped the ball allowing the tying runs to score.
 
NSU took the lead back in the fifth. After a two-out triple, Demon third baseman Rocco Gump scored on a wild pitch. It was Gump's third hit of the game.
 
O'Neal tied the game leading off the sixth, slamming a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right-center for his third homer of the season.
 
SLU took the lead for the first time in the game, 5-4, in the seventh. Giovanni Licciardi lined a one-out single to right. After advancing on a groundout, he scored from second on Brome's RBI single to center.
 
The Demons came right back to tie the game in the eighth. Samuel Stephenson, the NSU shortstop, led off the inning with a double to right-center. He advanced to third and later scored on a pair of wild pitches.
 
Aiden Vosburg saved the Lion bullpen, logging 4.2 innings in long relief. Luke Lirette (0.1 IP), Luke Barbier (0.2 IP) and Brady St. Pierre (1.2 IP) shut down the Demons the rest of the way, setting up O'Neal for the dramatic walk-off.
 
St. Pierre (1-0) earned the win. The freshman from LaPlace, Louisiana struck out four batters in his scoreless stint. Conner Bivins (0-1), the third pitcher used by the Demons, suffered the loss after allowing the game-winning home run.
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern returns to the road for a four-game road trip. The Lions travel to Oxford, Mississippi for a non-conference contest Tuesday at No. 24-ranked Ole Miss. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.
 
The Lions wrap up the trip with a three-game series at Memphis. Games are scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Friday, 2:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:05 p.m. Sunday at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field in Memphis, Tennessee.
 
RADIO SHOW
The 2025 edition of Inside Southeastern Baseball with Bobby Barbier begins March 10 and will air live each 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 KSLU 90.9 The Lion, via the Lions Gameday Experience 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.
 
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.