CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 9-2, in Southland Conference action Saturday at Chapman Field, claiming its fifth conference series of the season.
 
Southeastern (28-7, 13-4 SLC) scored a run in the first and tacked on five more in the third, jumping out to an insurmountable lead early over the Islanders (13-23, 5-12 SLC).
 
TJ Salvaggio lined a two-out triple into the right-center field gap in the first. He later scored on a wild pitch.
 
In the third, Giovanni Licciardi and Ryan Brome picked up back-to-back singles to open the inning. Salvaggio followed with an RBI double to nearly the same spot in right-center as his triple. Brome scored on Conner O'Neal's groundout to first. Mo Little plated Salvaggio with an RBI single and Dane Watts cleaned up the bases with his fourth home run of the season.
 
SLU added three more runs in the fifth for good measure. Little reached on an error by the Islander shortstop leading off the frame. Back-to-back singles by Watts and Bailyn Sorensen (RBI) brought Little around to score. Parker Coley delivered a one-out, RBI single to center, bringing home Watts, and Brome plated Sorensen with a two-out, RBI single.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi picked a pair of runs in the ninth.
 
Luke Lirette (3-1) earned the win, tossing five shutout innings. The junior from Houma, Louisiana scattered three hits and four walks, striking out three. Islander starting pitcher David Dean (1-3) suffered the loss, allowing six runs – all earned – in 2.1 innings pitched.
 
The Lions pounded out 15 hits, marking the third straight and fourth time in five games they have recorded double-digit hits.
 
Salvaggio (3-for-4), Watts (3-for-5), Brome (2-for-4), Coley (2-for-5) and Sorensen (2-for-5) all contributed multiple hits to the effort.
 
UP NEXT
The series concludes 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.
 
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.