HAMMOND, La. – The back-to-back Southland Conference regular-season champion Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team began Southland Conference Baseball Tournament action with a 3-2 win over No. 8-seeded HCU in the Hammond Bracket presented by North Oaks Health at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field Thursday.
No. 1 seed Southeastern (32-19, 19-9 SLC) defeated the Huskies (23-28, 13-17 SLC) in the second matchup on the opening day of the tournament.
After
Peyton Woods started the bottom of the second with a leadoff walk,
Connor Cuff doubled to score SLU's first run of the night, 1-0.
The Huskies fought back in the top of the third. With runners on first and second, HCU's Jack Walker drove in both runs to give the visitors the lead, 2-1.
The Lions remained within a run until the bottom of the ninth. A leadoff double from Cuff and a bunt from
Giovanni Licciardi advanced the junior to third.
Dane Watts drove home Cuff on a fielder's choice, 2-2. With two outs on the board,
Blaise Priester homered to left center to walk off the Huskies, 3-2.
Blake Lobell pitched 6.2 innings in his 13
th start of the season, only allowing the pair of runs in the third. The senior collected four strikeouts in the contest.
Logan Freche (2-3) picked up the win for the Lions, adding three strikeouts in 2.1 innings.
HCU's Ben Smith threw seven innings in the start, only allowing one run on three hits. In relief, Louis Castano (4-3) received the loss, pitching the final 1.2 innings.
Cuff (3-for-4) batted three doubles, the first time a Lion has hit three doubles in a game since Preston Faulkner in a 12-3 win over McNeese on Apr. 16, 2019.
UP NEXT
The Lions will continue postseason play against No. 5-seeded McNeese Friday, at 6 p.m. at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. The game will also be televised on ESPN+.
Fans can listen to all the baseball action locally on KSLU 90.9 The Lion or worldwide 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 on both Android and iOS, the Gameday app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
#LionUp
