NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team pulled away in the latter innings Sunday, 17-5, on the way to a run-rule victory over New Orleans to claim the Pontchartrain Bowl at Maestri Field.
 
Southeastern (22-6, 9-3 SLC) scored three runs in the first inning, but the Privateers (14-12, 7-8 SLC) spent the next several innings scratching their way into a tie.
 
With one out in the first, Ryan Brome and TJ Salvaggio produced back-to-back singles. Conner O'Neal drew the first of his two walks in the game to load the bases. Giovanni Licciardi forced in the first run when he was hit by a pitch. Bailyn Sorensen added to the Lion lead with a two-run single to right field.
 
UNO quickly picked up a run in the bottom of the inning. Privateer catcher Matt Gonzalez led off with a double to left-center and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a groundout by designated hitter Adrian Dominguez.
 
New Orleans starting pitcher Zach Longshore shut down the Lion bats over the next four innings, giving UNO the opportunity it needed to tie the game, 3-3, with single runs in the fourth and fifth.
 
SLU responded with another three-run inning in the sixth. Sorensen led off with a double down the third-base line against reliever Cole Syverson. Jude Hall bunted for a base hit and Parker Coley worked a walk, loading the bases.
 
Privateer reliever Sawyer Toney balked before delivering his first pitch, plating Sorensen. Dane Watts then delivered a line-drive single up the middle to bring home Hall and Coley.
 
UNO would not go away quietly. Center fielder Tristan Moore led off the bottom of the inning with a double to right-center. Following a wild pitch, Moore scored on a sacrifice fly.
 
The Lions kept the offensive pressure dialed up and the New Orleans bullpen imploded in the seventh. SLU scored seven runs on just one hit, taking advantage of three walks, three hit batters and a pair of Privateer errors.
 
Heading to the eighth with a 13-4 lead, back-to-back homers by Hall and Cole Stromboe added to the Southeastern advantage. Two more runs followed to complete the Lions' late-inning offensive explosion.
 
Blake Lobell (3-1) earned the win, allowing four runs – all earned – in 5.0 innings pitched. He surrendered five hits and three walks, striking out five batters. Brady St. Pierre (2.0 IP) and Luke Barbier (1.0 IP) closed it out for SLU. Syverson (3-1) was tagged with the loss, failing to retire any of the three batters he faced.
 
Sorensen (3-for-4), Hall (2-for-4) and Watts (2-for-5) contributed multiple hits each for the Lions.
 
Now in its 10^th year, Southeastern has won the Pontchartrain Bowl six times. The SLU victory Sunday ended New Orleans' two-year claim to the trophy.
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern remains on the road early next week, traveling to Mobile, Alabama for a non-conference matchup Tuesday at South Alabama. First pitch against the Jaguars is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field. It is the first of two games this season against USA.
 
RADIO SHOW
Inside Southeastern Baseball with Bobby Barbier airs 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.