Late UAB blast topples Southeastern

HAMMOND, La. – UAB first baseman Josh Sears blasted a three-run home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning Sunday as the Blazers rallied for a 6-5 win over the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team in non-conference action at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

Southeastern (3-4) led, 4-2, heading into the ninth, but UAB (6-1) pounded out five hits on its way to wiping out the Lions’ lead.

Third baseman Brandon Willoughby and pinch-hitter Trey Waugh greeted SLU reliever Trey Harrington with back-to-back singles. A one-out single by John Marc Mullins pulled UAB within a run and a fielding error by center fielder Jake Johnson put both the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position.

After Harrington struck out pinch-hitter Logan Braunschweig, Sears launched his second homer of the season out to left field.

Down 6-4 heading into the bottom half of the inning, the Lions cut the deficit in half on a two-out, solo home run off the bat of Rhett Rosevear but that was the only bit of offense SLU could muster in the latter half of the game.

Southeastern started out the game strong, scoring in the first for the third time in the series. Rosevear, who finished a double shy of the cycle, lined a one-out triple into the left-field corner. He scored one batter later on Preston Faulkner’s RBI single.

UAB tied the game in the second on catcher Henry Hunter’s solo home run. It was his second solo shot of the series and the only run the Blazer’s scored off Southeastern starting pitcher Hunter O’Toole.

The Lions answered with a pair of runs in their half of the second. Tyler Finke hustled his way into a double leading off the inning. He scored on Connor Manola’s two-out single to left. Following Evan Keller’s infield single, Manola scored on a wild pitch.

SLU extended its lead in the third. Bryce Grizzaffi dropped a double down the right-field line. Christian Garcia, the next batter, reached on a throwing error by the shortstop. The duo then executed a double steal with Grizzaffi scoring from third.

The Blazers pulled starting pitcher Brooks Walton after three innings and from that point forward, SLU managed just a seventh-inning single by Rosevear until his solo homer in the ninth.

O’Toole, who did not receive a decision, allowed one run in the five innings of work. He scattered four hits and a pair of walks, striking out six batters.

UAB reliever Jonah Smith (1-0) earned the win. The right-hander allowed one run on one hit, Rosevear’s home run, over the game’s final 2.1 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out two. Harrington (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in one inning of relief work. He did not walk a batter and struck out one.

Rosevear (3-for-5) led all players with three hits.

RADIO SHOW
The next episode of Inside Southeastern Baseball with Matt Riser, presented by Pour House Pizza and Beer Garden, is slated for Monday at 12 p.m. from the restaurant in downtown Hammond. Fans can listen to every show online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via the Lions Gameday Experience, MyTuner Radio or Mixlr apps. The MyTuner Radio app is compatible with the Apple CarPlay software available in most late model automobiles.

UP NEXT
Southeastern’s five-game homestand continues this week with games Tuesday against Tulane and Wednesday against No. 15-ranked Louisiana Tech. Both games are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

Fireworks are scheduled for Tuesday’s Mardi Gras contest against the Green Wave. The first 200 SLU students through the gates for the game will also receive king cake and commemorative Lion Baseball mardi gras beads.

TICKET & PARKING INFORMATION
Single-game tickets are on sale for the remainder of the regular season. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to minimize ticket lines on game days. Southeastern students are encouraged to contact the ticket office prior to the game to reserve theirs in advance.

General admission tickets are $9 for adults and $6 for youth (ages 3-12). Southeastern students, with a university ID, and children under age 2 are admitted free. Gameday parking is $5 per day for standard vehicles and $25 for RVs.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets or by contacting the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays. The ticket booth at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field opens exactly one hour prior to the scheduled first pitch.

Southeastern uses mobile ticketing as the primary method for distributing tickets purchased online. Tickets will be available via text message or email in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.

CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics enforces a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. The policy mirrors 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.

LIONS GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE APP
The Lions Gameday Experience app puts audio, stats, video, social media and more in the hands of fans. Those in attendance can also check in to earn reward points redeemable for Southeastern-related prizes. Available for both Android and iOS devices, it can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play or by following the link www.LionSports.net/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 visiting www.LionUp.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Lions Baseball, follow @LionUpBaseball or @MattRiser17 on Twitter, @LionUpBaseball on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.

LINE SCORE
UAB 6, Southeastern 5 (Feb 27, 2022 at Hammond, La.)
———————————————————————-
UAB …………….. 010 000 104 – 6 11 2 (6-1)
Southeastern ….. 121 000 001 – 5 8 1 (3-4)
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Pitchers: UAB – Walton, Brooks; Knight, Carson (4); Sewell, JC (7); Smith, Jonah (7) and Hunter, Henry. Southeastern – O’Toole, Hunter; Landry, Andrew (6); Trahan, Gage (7); Harrington, Trey (9) and Manola, Connor.

Win-Smith, Jonah (1-0) Loss-Harrington, Trey (0-1) T-3:08 A-988
HR UAB – Sears, Josh (2); Hunter, Henry (2).
HR SLU – Rosevear, Rhett (1).
Weather: 54 Cloudy, NNW 9 mph