McNeese downs Southeastern with walkoff grand slam in 11th

LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team fell, 7-3, in 11 innings Friday at McNeese in the opening game of a Southland Conference series at Joe Miller Ballpark.

Both starting pitchers struggled in the first inning before settling in for the long haul.

Evan Keller jumped on the first pitch of the game, blasting a home run to left field. It was his fifth of the season and it gave Southeastern (17-21, 7-6 SLC) an early 1-0 lead.

McNeese (21-17, 7-6 SLC) starter Grant Rogers hit the next batter, Rhett Rosevear, with a pitch and gave up a one-out single to Preston Faulkner before getting out of the inning with a double play.

In the bottom of the inning, the Cowboys put together five consecutive singles to start the inning. After a hit batter, a sacrifice fly plated the third and final run of the inning.

Kinzeler retired the side in order in the second and third, giving up back-to-back hits in the fourth. Those would be the last hits McNeese would get until the 11th inning.

As they have done all season, the Lions clawed back into the game.

Tristan Welch led off the seventh with a solo home run to straightaway center field. It was his fifth of the season.

In the eighth, McNeese closer Cameron Foster hit Tyler Finke in the shoulder blade with a one-out pitch. A wild pitch sent Finke to second base. He stole third and then scored the tying run when the catcher’s throw wound up in left field.

Foster locked in, retiring every Lion batter he faced for the rest of the game.

A one-out walk issued by SLU reliever Gage Trahan in the 11th put the eventual winning run on base. After a single to right put runners on the corners, the Lions elected to intentionally walk Cowboy shortstop Reid Bourque to load the bases and set up a force at every base. The next hitter, Kade Morris, sent the first pitch he saw over the wall in left-center for a walk-off grand slam.

Foster (3-1) earned the win, allowing one unearned run in four innings of relief work. He did not allow a hit or a walk, striking out five batters. Trahan (2-2) suffered the loss, allowing four runs in one inning pitched.

Keller (2-for-5) turned in a multi-hit performance, adding a third-inning double to his hit total.

UP NEXT
The series continues Saturday at 6 p.m. Adam Guth (1-1, 5.11), a freshman left-hander from Lake Charles, takes the ball Saturday for SLU. He will be opposed by Cowboy sophomore right-hander Chance Stone (2-2, 3.78).

Fans in the Hammond area can listen to the game broadcast online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via the Lions Gameday Experience, Mixlr and MyTuner Radio apps. The MyTuner app is compatible with the Apple CarPlay software available in most late model automobiles. Fans should search for SLU Athletics (Mixlr) or Southeastern Sports Radio Network (MyTuner).

There will be no over-the-air radio broadcast of the weekend series.