NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team defeated New Orleans, 8-3, Saturday in Southland Conference action at Maestri Field.
 
The Pontchartrain Bowl rivalry series is now split at a game apiece after Southeastern (21-6, 8-3 SLC) bounced back after dropping the opening game of the series to UNO (14-11, 7-7 SLC).
 
After both teams picked up a run in the second, SLU took advantage of control issues by the Privateers' starting pitcher Skylar Jones. Ryan Brome led off the inning with a double, advancing to third on a TJ Salvaggio flyout.
 
Ball four to Conner O'Neal was a wild pitch, allowing Brome to score. Following a double by Peyton Woods, Jones would uncork to more wild pitches that would plate both O'Neal and Woods.
 
In the bottom of the inning, the Privateers threatened to answer. UNO loaded the bases with no outs, but Southeastern starting pitcher Luke Lirette worked out of the jam without allowing a run.
 
The Privateers picked up an unearned run in the fourth, pulling within 4-2 of SLU.
 
A sacrifice fly by Woods in the fifth and a solo home run by O'Neal in the seventh added two more runs to the Lion advantage.
 
In the eighth, Giovanni Licciardi lined a leadoff single to right field. Jude Hall followed with an RBI triple down the right-field line. Hall later scored on a Cole Stromboe sacrifice fly as Southeastern extended its lead to 8-2 over UNO.
 
The Privateers added a run in the ninth to wrap up the scoring.
 
SLU reliever Aiden Vosburg (2-1) earned the win, allowing one run in 5.0 innings pitched. He surrendered four hits and two walks, striking out a pair of batters. Jones (3-1) suffered the loss, allowing four runs – all earned – in 3.2 innings of work. He coughed up two hits and four walks, hit three batters, threw three wild pitches and struck out eight batters.
 
Brome (2-for-4) and Woods (2-for-4) contributed a pair of hits each as the Lions pounded out nine hits in the game.
 
UP NEXT
The series wraps up Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN+. Live stats will be available in the Lions Gameday Experience app and online at www.LionSports.net.
 
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.
 
Blake Lobell (2-1, 4.12), a junior right-hander from Holden, Louisiana, earns the start on the mound for Southeastern in Sunday's contest. UNO is slated to throw senior left-hander Zach Longshore (0-3, 11.42).
 
UNO has won the Pontchartrain Bowl each of the last two seasons, but the Lions have won five times in the trophy's nine-year existence.
 
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.