HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team dropped its Southland Conference series finale Saturday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field, 8-5, to UTRGV.
 
Despite the loss to the Vaqueros (26-13, 17-7 SLC), Southeastern (31-9, 16-5 SLC) maintains a share of first place in the Southland standings. McNeese (16-5 SLC) is tied with the Lions, a half game in front of third-place UTRGV and two full games ahead of SLU's upcoming conference opponent, Houston Christian (14-7).
 
The Vaqueros struck for a pair of runs in the first inning. Southeastern battled back to tie the game in the fifth, taking a 5-3 lead in the sixth, but UTRGV bounced back against the Lion bullpen to win the game.
 
UTRGV's runs in the first scored without the ball leaving the infield. A hit batter sandwiched between of pair of infield hits loaded the bases with no outs. A pair of groundouts plated the runners.
 
Mo Little single-handedly cut the Lions' deficit in half, launching a home run leading off the second. The solo shot was his second homer of the series and seventh of the season.
 
The Vaqueros pushed their lead back to two in the fifth, but a two-run homer by TJ Salvaggio in the bottom of the frame tied the score. Salvaggio's blast was his 11^th of the season and 32^nd of his SLU career, pushing him past Andy Allain (1981-84) and Ed Nodhturft (1996-97) into sole possession of fourth place on the program's career chart.
 
Salvaggio delivered a two-out, two-run double in the sixth to put SLU on top for the first time in the contest, 5-3.
 
UTRGV answered immediately, sending eight batters to the plate in the seventh on its way to a four-run inning to regain the lead. A two-run home run by designated hitter Armani Raygoza capped the rally. It was his team-leading 11^th homer of the season.
 
The Vaqueros added an insurance run in the eighth on a solo homer by second baseman Thomas Williams.
 
Wyatt Wiatrek (6-0) earned the win, allowing four runs – all earned – in 4.0 innings of relief work. Anthony Tejada tossed a pair of scoreless innings to close out the game, earning his first save of the season. Aiden Vosburg (2-2) suffered the loss, allowing three runs – all earned – in 0.2 innings pitched.
 
Parker Coley (3-for-4), Salvaggio (3-for-4), Little (2-for-4) and Bailyn Sorensen (2-for-4) each turned in multi-hit performances at the plate for the Lions.
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern's upcoming game against Dillard, slated for Tuesday, has been canceled and will not be rescheduled. The postgame fireworks promotion has been moved to the Senior Night game, May 2, against Lamar.
 
The Lions return to the diamond Wednesday in Hattiesburg, Mississippi for a non-conference contest against No. 23-ranked Southern Miss, kicking off a five-game road trip. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.
 
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 the 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.