MOBILE, Ala. – Sophomore right-hander Kaleb Howell tossed a career-high 5.2 innings in relief Tuesday as the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team defeated South Alabama, 8-6, in non-conference action at Stanky Field.
 
Southeastern (23-6) wiped out an early 2-0 deficit in the second inning, sending nine batters to the plate on the way to scoring five runs against South Alabama (12-16) starting pitcher Tyler Smith.
 
Conner O'Neal reached on a dropped fly ball by the left fielder to open the inning. He scored on Peyton Woods' RBI single down the left-field line. Ben Robichaux followed with his sixth home run of the season, a two-run blast to left field.
 
Giovanni Licciardi kept the rally going with a double down the left-field line. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored on Cole Stromboe's fielder's choice grounder to first base. Ryan Brome drove in Stromboe with a two-out base knock to center.
 
Howell, the fourth of six SLU pitchers, entered the game in the bottom of the inning and locked down the Jaguar bats before handing the ball over to freshmen Truitt Webb and Brady St. Pierre in the eighth.
 
South Alabama chipped a couple of runs off the Lions' 5-2 lead with single runs in the second and eighth.
 
The top of the SLU order got the offense back rolling in the ninth. Dane Watts led off the inning with an infield single, scoring on Ryan Brome's conference-leading 11^th home run of the season. TJ Salvaggio followed the two-run blast with a single to center, chasing Jaguar reliever Andrew Floyd from the game. O'Neal greeted Andrew Elkhill with an RBI double over the right fielder's head.
 
Chase Ambrose (2-0) earned the win, allowing one run in one inning of relief work. Brady St. Pierre picked up his fifth save of the season, retiring two of the three batters he faced to close out the game. Smith (2-2) suffered the loss, allowing five runs – three earned – in 5.1 innings pitched.
 
Robichaux (3-for-4) and Brome (2-for-5) were responsible for nearly half of the Lions' 11 hits in the game.
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern returns home for an action-packed weekend of Southland Conference action against UIW. Games are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
Friday's game is Youth Sports Night. Youth sports teams (8th grade and under) wearing their jersey to the game will receive free admission. They will also be able to stand on the field with their favorite Lion player during the National Anthem.
 
Saturday's game is part of the annual celebration of all things Lion Athletics, better known as Super Lion Saturday. The SLU Alumni Association will celebrate from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the grassy area adjacent to the right-field parking lot. Local band Open Range will provide musical entertainment, while the event will feature an Easter egg hunt on the football field, food trucks, yard games and a bounce house. Northshore Broadcasting will also provide a live remote from the event. During the baseball game, fans will be able to play Baseball Bingo.
 
Sunday is Military Appreciation Day. Free general admission tickets are available Sunday for active military members who present a valid service ID at the gate.
 
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.