THIBODAUX, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team swept Nicholls, 5-4 in 10 innings and 19-4 in seven innings, in a Southland Conference doubleheader Saturday at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field to win the conference's regular-season title, clinching a host site in the Southland tournament and the No. 1 seed along the way.
 
Southeastern (37-14, 22-8 SLC) went to extra innings to get the win in the opening game of the doubleheader before leaving little doubt in the second game, scoring a season-high 19 runs against Nicholls (17-32, 10-20 SLC) for the run-rule victory. It was also the most runs SLU has scored in a single game during the history of the series.
 
The Lions hit five home runs in the doubleheader, including a pair by shortstop TJ Salvaggio in the opening game. Southeastern is six shy of breaking the program's single-season record, established last season. Salvaggio, a senior from Slidell, Louisiana, also moved past Jeremy Gross (1997-98) into third place on the Lions' all-time home run chart with the 33^rd and 34^th of his career.
 
SLU will host the 2025 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament – Hammond Bracket presented by GeoSurfaces, Thursday through Sunday, at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
The No. 1-seeded Lions will face the No. 8 seed Thursday. The first day of bracket play in Hammond will also include a matchup that features No. 4-seeded Northwestern State and No. 5-seeded McNeese.
 
GAME ONE – SLU 5, Nicholls 4 (10 innings)
With one out in the first inning, Salvaggio jumped on the first pitch he saw from Colonel starting pitcher Alec Sparks and pulled it out of the ballpark down the left-field line. The solo home run gave SLU a 1-0 lead.
 
Nicholls took advantage of a hit batter leading off the bottom of the inning to manufacture a run without a base hit, tying the game.
 
Dane Watts led off the third with a solo home run off the scoreboard in right-center field, giving the Lions a 2-1 lead. It was the seventh homer of the season for the junior from Hammond, Louisiana.
 
A hit batter with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth tied the game once again.
 
The Lions regained the lead in the fifth. Parker Coley led off the fifth with an infield single. One out later, Salvaggio blasted a two-run homer to left-center.
 
After the Colonels' leadoff batter reached in the sixth, the Lions brought on Brady St. Pierre out of the bullpen. He stranded the inherited runner in the sixth, but hit the leadoff batter in the seventh with a pitch. That runner would score, pulling Nicholls with a run.
 
Following a game-tying home run with one out in the ninth, SLU brought on Truitt Webb out of the bullpen.
 
Southeastern did not wait long to respond as Conner O'Neal turned on a one-out pitch in the 10^th and launched it off the scoreboard in right-center to put the Lions on top, 5-4.
 
Webb fanned a pair in the 10^th, working around a one-out single to close out the win that clinched host site and No.1 seed for Southeastern.
 
Webb (2-0) earned the win, working 1.2 scoreless innings in relief. He allowed one hit, striking out three batters. Nicholls reliever Joseph Bordelon (0-2) suffered the loss, allowing one run in 3.2 innings pitched.
 
Salvaggio (3-for-5) and Coley (2-for-4) picked up multiple hits for the Lions.
 
GAME TWO – SLU 19, Nicholls 4 (7 innings)
The Lions left little doubt in the second game, scoring in every inning.
 
Watts led off the game with a single to left. Following a wild pitch, Savaggio was hit by a pitch and O'Neal drew a walk to load the bases. After hitting cleanup batter Logan Walters with a pitch to force in a run, the Colonels pulled starting pitcher Cole Simoneaux.
 
Bailyn Sorensen greeted reliever Harper Jordan with a two-run single to right-center field. Walters later scored on a double-play groundball to put the Lions up, 4-0.
 
Southeastern added two more in the second and a solo home run by Peyton Woods in the third. The homer by Woods was the second of the season for the sophomore from Albany, Louisiana.
 
Walters, Woods and Coley delivered run-scoring hits in the fourth as Southeastern sent nine batters to the plate, pushing across five runs.
 
Salvaggio and Walters provided RBI hits in the fifth. Salvaggio and O'Neal followed up with more run-scoring hits in the sixth.
 
Ben Robichaux's two-run single in the seventh provided the final bit of offense for the Lions.
 
Blake Lobell (7-1) earned the win, allowing two runs – both earned – in 6.0 innings pitched. Simoneaux (0-3) suffered the loss, allowing four runs without recording an out.
 
Watts (4-for-4) led the way as one of six Lions with multiple hits in the contest.
 
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.