SLU claims Pontchartrain Bowl with 10-5 win over UNO

HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team defeated New Orleans, 10-5, Friday in Southland Conference action to win the Pontchartrain Bowl at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

Sponsored by the SLU chapter of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity, the Pontchartrain Bowl trophy goes to the winner of the regular-season series between the Lions and Privateers. Created when UNO joined the Southland, Southeastern has claimed the trophy five of the first seven times.

The Lions (15-20, 6-5 SLC) fell behind, 3-0, for the second time in as many games before wiping out the deficit.

Preston Faulkner led off the bottom of the second inning with a towering home run to deep left-center field. It was his conference-leading 10th of the season. He currently sits fifth on the SLU all-time home run chart with 30, one back of both Andy Allain (1981-84) and Ed Nodhturft (1996-97).

SLU batted around in the third, sending 11 batters to the plate. Six hits, a pair of walks and a pair of UNO (19-13, 6-5 SLC) errors led to five Lion runs.

Christian Garcia led off the inning with a single to right field. After he was caught attempting to steal second base, Bryce Grizzaffi ripped a double down the left-field line. The Privateer left fielder accidentally kicked the ball, allowing Grizzaffi to wind up at third.

Evan Keller followed with an RBI single up the middle, plating Grizzaffi. Rhett Rosevear followed with a single through the right side, sending Keller to third. Tyler Finke pushed a bunt up the first-base line, bringing home Keller with the tying run and sacrificing Rosevear to second.

Rosevear advanced to third on a passed ball and Faulkner drew a walk. Shea Thomas followed with an RBI single, driving in Rosevear with the go-ahead run. Champ Artigues reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Faulkner to score from second. Tristan Welch drove in Thomas with the final run of the inning on an RBI single to center.

SLU starting pitcher Will Kinzeler settled in after a rough first two innings, holding down the Privateer bats through six.

The Lions added three more runs in the sixth for a 9-3 lead.

Grizzaffi started things off with a two-out single up the middle. UNO starting pitcher Brandon Mitchell, who had already hit Artigues with a pitch earlier in the game, hit the next three batters in succession to force in a run. A pair of relievers did not fare much better, combining to walk the next two batters and force in a pair of runs.

Included in the string of hit batters was Rosevear’s 23rd HBP of the season. The national leader set the SLU single-season record, passing Josh Cryer who set the record in 2009 and then tied it the following season.

Southeastern tacked on a run in the seventh before the Privateers scored single runs in both the eighth and ninth.

Errors played a big part in the score as both teams scored three unearned runs apiece.

Kinzeler (3-1) earned the win, allowing three runs – one earned – in six innings of work. He surrendered just three hits while walking three and hitting a pair of batters. He struck out three. Mitchell (1-4) suffered the loss, allowing nine runs – six earned – in 5.2 innings pitched.

Grizzaffi (2-for-3), Thomas (2-for-4) and Welch (2-for-4) all turned in multi-hit performances for the Lions. Faulkner and Garcia drove in a pair each.

Southeastern remains tied for second place in the conference standings, one game back of Nicholls.

UP NEXT
The Pontchartrain Bowl series wraps up Saturday at 11 a.m. The first pitch has been pushed up due to the threat of inclement weather in the afternoon. The trophy will be presented to Southeastern following the game.

Freshman left-hander Adam Guth (1-1, 5.11) is slated to start for the Lions in the series finale. He will be opposed by UNO sophomore right-hander Collin Horton (2-0, 4.50). Horton ranks third in the Southland with 43 strikeouts.

Fans in the Hammond area can also listen on the flagship station of the Southeastern Sports Radio Network – KSLU 90.9 FM – in addition to online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via both 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).

The game will also air on ESPN+.

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 for 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.

PARKING CONSTRUCTION
The university is slated to repave a portion of the baseball parking lot, from April 13-29, affecting home games against New Orleans (April 14-16), South Alabama (April 19) and Southern Miss (April 26). Additional parking will be available in the parking garage and in the lot north of the garage.

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.

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 newer automobiles.

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 by 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
Southeastern 10, New Orleans 5 (Apr 15, 2022 at Hammond, La.)
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New Orleans ……. 120 000 011 – 5 6 3 (19-13, 6-5 SLC)
Southeastern …….. 015 003 10X – 10 10 2 (15-20, 6-5 SLC)
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Pitchers: New Orleans – Mitchell, Brandon; Duran, Andrew (6); McAuliffe, Nick (6); Menina, Caleb (7) and Tejeda, Jorge. Southeastern – Kinzeler, Will; Landry, Andrew (7); Aspholm, Dalton (9) and Grizzaffi, Bryce.

Win-Kinzeler, Will (3-1) Loss-Mitchell, Brandon (1-4) T-2:50 A-1190
HR UNO – Larry, Amani (4).
HR SLU – Faulkner, Preston (10).
Weather: 76 Cloudy, SE 13 mph
A. Duran faced 1 batter in the 6th.
N. McAuliffe faced 2 batters in the 7th.