HAMMOND, La. – Brennan Stuprich outdueled McNeese starting pitcher Cooper Golden in the series opener Friday as the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team recorded its nation-leading fifth shutout of the season, 6-0, to down the Cowboys in Southland Conference action at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
Stuprich combined with Brady St. Pierre to limit McNeese (15-5, 6-4 SLC) to four hits as the Lions (18-3, 7-0 SLC) remain atop the conference standings. SLU is off to its best start to a season since going 22-2 to open the 2010 campaign.
 
The first seven-plus innings were a pure pitcher's duel. Golden carried a perfect game into the sixth inning.
 
Meanwhile, Stuprich picked off a runner in the first before stranding a pair in both the second and fourth. Twice the redshirt senior from Kenner, Louisiana struck out the side as he matched scoreless frames with the McNeese southpaw.
 
The Lions broke up the perfect game, no-hitter and shutout in the span of three batters. Giovanni Licciardi drew a leadoff walk in the sixth. He advanced to third on a Bailyn Sorensen single to center field and a subsequent fielding error by McNeese center fielder Conner Westenburg. A sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Mo Little plated Licciardi with the go-ahead run.
 
Licciardi extended the Lion lead to 2-0 with a two-out RBI double in the seventh.
 
With one out and a runner on first, Stuprich handed the ball over to St. Pierre in the eighth. The freshman from LaPlace, Louisiana retired the next two batters to end the inning, catching the final batter looking at strike three.
 
In the bottom of the inning, SLU broke the game open. After Cowboy reliever Caleb Strmiska hit Little with a pitch to open the frame, Dane Watts dragged a bunt single up the first-base line. Ryan Brome followed with an RBI single up the middle.
 
Two outs later, Conner O'Neal launched a three-run home run to right. The massive blast was his sixth of the season, extending the Lions lead to 6-0 over McNeese.
 
Stuprich (6-0) picked up the win, recording double-digit strikeouts for the third time this season. He leads the Southland in both wins and strikeouts (55), ranking second in ERA (1.17) behind teammate Lakin Polk. St. Pierre picked up his fourth save of the season. Golden (1-2) was the hard-luck loser, allowing one run in 6.0 innings pitched.
 
Watts (2-for-4), the Southland's leading hitter, picked up a pair of hits to raise his batting average to .435 this season. The Hammond native also made two phenomenal catches in the outfield, chasing down a ball in deep center in the second and helping snuff out a potential McNeese rally in the eighth with a diving catch in left.
 
UP NEXT
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN+ with a pitching matchup that features junior right-hander Polk (3-0, 0.75) for SLU. The junior from Ponchatoula, Louisiana will counter Cowboy senior left-hander Alexis Gravel (2-1, 3.09).
 
Fans can listen to game broadcasts in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 The Lion. In addition, an audio stream is available online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via the Lions Gameday Experience and MyTuner Radio apps. The MyTuner app is compatible with the Apple CarPlay software available in most late-model automobiles.
 
Live stats will be available in the Lions Gameday Experience app and online at www.LionSports.net.
 
Saturday's game is Alumni Day. All former Lion baseball players and personnel are invited to enjoy the game and participate in a pregame ceremony on the field. Special recognition will be paid to members of SLU's 1975 College World Series squad. Fans will also be able to play Baseball Bingo during the game.
 
Registered baseball alums, along with one guest, will be granted free admission and are welcome to join in the pregame recognition ceremony on the field. Also set to be honored are members of SLU's 1975 College World Series team. The ceremony lineup begins at 1:15 p.m. next to Southeastern's third-base dugout.
 
Jambalaya and a tour of the clubhouse will be provided for alums who arrive by 1 p.m.
 
Baseball alums can register on-site or RSVP in advance by emailing Allie Crain of the Lion Athletics Association at allie.crain@southeastern.edu.
 
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.