Ninth-inning rally sends Lions to eighth-straight win

NATCHITOCHES, La. – Down two runs in the ninth with two outs and the bases empty, the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team rallied Saturday for an 8-5 Southland Conference victory over Northwestern State at Brown-Stroud Field.

Southeastern (17-6, 2-0 SLC) claimed the series while extending their winning streak to eight consecutive games overall and five straight over the Demons (5-18, 0-2 SLC).

The Lions jumped out in front early. Rhett Rosevear led off the game with a single down the third-base line. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on Justin Williams’ single through the left side. Shea Thomas plated Rosevear with a single through the right side, the Lions’ third consecutive hit to open up the game.

Northwestern State took the lead, 2-1, with a pair of runs in the third.

SLU tied the game in the fifth. With one out, Rosevear was hit by a pitch. He was erased on a fielder’s choice as Williams beat out the potential double-play ball. Thomas doubled, putting a pair of runners in scoring position. Northwestern State starting pitcher Dawson Flowers uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Williams to score with the tying run.

The Demons took the lead back, 3-2, in the bottom half of the inning on a wild pitch.

Leading off the eighth, Thomas tied the game with a home run to right-center. The solo shot was his team-leading fifth homer of the season. Following an error, a stolen base, a walk and another wild pitch, SLU had a pair of runners in scoring position but could not push them across to take the lead.

Northwestern State responded with a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning, taking the lead for the third time in the game.

Down, 5-3, entering the ninth, the Lions racked up two quick outs but refused to go away quietly. Williams turned on a 3-1 pitch, launching a solo homer to left. His fourth home run of the season pulled SLU within one. Struggling with his control, Demon reliever Tyler Bryan then issued consecutive walks to Thomas, Ryan Brome and Jake Haze to load the bases.

TJ Salvaggio greeted reliever Austin Anderson with a line-drive single over the shortstop, scoring pinch runners Jude Hall and Dane Watts to give Southeastern the lead, 6-5. Conner O’Neal followed with a pop-up to shallow center field, but the Northwestern State shortstop was unable to make a play. Haze and Salvaggio scored a pair of insurance runs.

Lakin Polk worked around a one-out double in the ninth, fanning the next two batters to clinch the win and pick up his second save of the season. Lance Lauve (1-0) earned the win in relief. Bryan (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing four runs – all earned – in 0.2 innings pitched.

Thomas (4-for-4), Williams (3-for-4) and Salvaggio (2-for-5) all turned in multi-hit performances for the Lions.

For the second time in as many games, Southeastern had a runner reach base in all nine innings.

UP NEXT
The series draws to an end Sunday at 1 p.m. at Brown-Stroud Field on ESPN+. Will Kinzeler (1-0, 7.02), a senior right-hander from Covington, Louisiana, earns the start on the mound Sunday in the series finale opposite Northwestern State freshman right-hander Dylan Marionneaux (0-4, 8.82).

Fans can also listen to the game broadcasts in the Hammond area on 90.9 The Lion. In addition, an audio stream is available online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via the Lions Gameday Experience, TuneIn and MyTuner Radio apps. Both the TuneIn and MyTuner apps are compatible with the Apple CarPlay software available in most late-model automobiles. Search for KSLU 90.9 FM in the TuneIn app.

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 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.

LINE SCORE
Southeastern 8, Northwestern State 5 (Mar 23, 2024 at Natchitoches, La.)
—————————————————————————
Southeastern …………. 100 010 015 – 8 12 0 (17-6, 2-0)
Northwestern State … 002 010 020 – 5 8 2 (5-18, 0-2)
—————————————————————————
Pitchers: Southeastern – Lee, Dakota; Bennett, Levi (5); Lauve, Lance (8); Polk, Lakin (9) and Sorensen, Bailyn; O’Neal, Conner. Northwestern State – Flowers, Dawson; Newton, Aidan (6); Bryan, Tyler (9); Anderson, Austin (9) and Willis, Bo; Joyner, Cole.

Win-Lauve, Lance (1-0) Save-Polk, Lakin (3) Loss-Bryan, Tyler (0-1) T-2:37 A-843
HR SLU – Williams, Justin (4); Thomas, Shea (5).
HR NSU – Burroway, Daniel (2).
Weather: 68 and sunny. Wind: 5 NNE