HOUSTON, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team shut out Houston Christian, 1-0, in Southland Conference action Friday at Husky Field.
 
With the win over HCU (22-18, 14-8 SLC), Southeastern (32-10, 17-5 SLC) remains atop the conference standings.
 
In prototypical pitchers' duel fashion, SLU starting pitcher Brennan Stuprich retired the first eight batters he faced and Husky starter Parker Edwards retired the first 11.
 
When the Lions finally reached off Edwards, they made it count. TJ Salvaggio lined a two-out single to left field in the fourth inning. Conner O'Neal followed with an RBI double down the right-field line, plating Salvaggio from first.
 
Both starters remained locked in as Stuprich retired the side in order four times and faced the minimum number of batters in five innings. Edwards retired the side in order five times.
 
With two out and a pair of runners aboard in the eighth, the Lions brought on Brady St. Pierre. He retired the next batter on a fly ball to end the inning.
 
After walking the leadoff batter in the ninth, St. Pierre struck out the next two. O'Neal then picked the runner off first to end the game.
 
Stuprich (9-2) earned the win, tossing 7.2 shutout innings. He scattered four hits and two walks, striking out six batters. Edwards (1-3) was the hard-luck loser, allowing one run in 9.0 innings pitched. St. Pierre picked up his eighth save of the season, logging 1.1 shutout innings to close out the game.
 
The win for Stuprich keeps him tied for the national lead and pulls him into a tie with Kenny Lehrmann (1976-78) for the most career victories (25) in program history. It was the 50^th start of his career, bypassing Brandon Efferson (2008-11) for the most ever by a Lion.
 
A redshirt senior from Kenner, Louisiana, Stuprich also moved into third place on the SLU career innings pitched list (305.1), bypassing Jeremy Mizell (2003-06), Bob Hardy (1959-62) and Efferson. He trails only Corey Gaconi (306.0 IP) and Tate Scioneaux (317.1 IP).
 
Salvaggio picked up a one-out double in the ninth to finish the game with a pair of hits (2-for-4).
 
UP NEXT
The series continues Saturday at 2 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 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.