HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team dropped another tight game Friday, 4-2, to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in the series opener at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
SIUE (2-3) first baseman Ryan Niedzwiedz hit a pair of home runs and four pitchers combined to hold Southeastern (0-5) to a pair of hits.
 
Niedzwiedz's first home run of the season came with one out in the first inning, spoiling a three-strikeout inning by Lion starting pitcher Brady St. Pierre (0-2).
 
An SLU fielding error in the fourth led to an unearned run before Niedzwiedz staked the Cougars to a 4-0 lead in the fifth, launching a two-run blast.
 
The Lions responded with a two-run homer of their own in the bottom of the inning, as first baseman Brody Capps launched a no-doubter to left field for his second of the season.
 
From that point forward, the bullpens shut down both lineups.
 
Cougar reliever Joseph Martin (2-0) earned the win, allowing a pair of runs over four innings of work. He scattered two hits, one walk and one hit batter, striking out six. Easton Harris picked up his second save of the season, striking out one in a scoreless ninth. St. Pierre suffered the loss, allowing four runs – three earned – in 4.0 innings of work.
 
Kaleb Howell kept Southeastern within striking distance, tossing five scoreless innings of long relief.
 
UP NEXT
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN+. Fans will be able to play baseball bingo during Saturday's contest, with the first 25 winners claiming a prize.
 
Lakin Polk (0-1, 18.00), a senior right-hander from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, draws the starting assignment for Saturday's contest opposite Cougar sophomore right-hander Tim Teixeira (0-0, 2.25).
 
Fans can listen to all the baseball action on KSLU 90.9 The Lion, online at either www.LionSports.net/listenlive or www.LionUpRadio.org, via the following apps – Lions Gameday Experience, Live365, iHeart, Audacy, TuneIn and MyTuner Radio - or on Alexa speakers (skill must be enabled first). All you have to say is, "Alexa, play K.S.L.U."
 
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 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.