SLU drops series opener at Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team dropped the opening game of a three-game series against Jacksonville, 6-2, Friday at John Sessions Stadium at Alexander Brest Field.

Southeastern (7-3) has now dropped its last three games after winning seven consecutive to open the season.

The Dolphins (7-4) jumped on SLU starting pitcher Brennan Stuprich early, taking a 3-0 lead before the first out was recorded thanks to back-to-back doubles and a home run. Stuprich worked his way out of a bases-loaded, no-out situation by inducing a double play and striking out the final batter.

Southeastern chipped away with a run in the third. Rhett Rosevear was hit by a two-out pitch. It marked the 11th time this season he has been hit, a total that leads the nation. Tyler Finke followed with a double down the third-base line. Rosevear scored when the left fielder let the ball scoot by him for an error.

Inching closer in the fifth, Christian Garcia started things off by reaching on a one-out infield hit. TJ Salvaggio followed with a double to center field. Rosevear plated Garcia with an RBI single to right.

Jacksonville got the run back in the bottom of the inning with three consecutive singles to open up the frame. A two-run home run in the sixth added two more runs to the lead.

The Lions stranded nine runners in the game, including four over the final three innings.

Dolphin freshman right-hander Evan Chrest (1-0) earned the first win of his collegiate career, allowing two unearned runs in seven innings of work. He scatters six hits and one walk, striking out five. He also hit three batters.

Stuprich (1-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing four runs – all earned – in five innings of work. The redshirt sophomore from Kenner, Louisiana surrendered seven hits and six walks, striking out three.

Finke inched closer to the Southeastern career record for stolen bases with a seventh-inning steal. He now has 68 in his career, bypassing Rod Morris (67) on the Lion all-time charts. He now ranks third behind Melvin Meyers (71) and Brock Hebert (69).

The all-time series between SLU and the Dolphins is now tied, 2-2, with Jacksonville winning the last two.

UP NEXT
The series continues at 1 p.m. (CT) Saturday. Junior right-hander Will Kinzeler (2-0, 0.79) draws the starting assignment Saturday for SLU opposite Dolphin right-hander Christian Graham (1-0, 2.53).

RADIO SHOW
The next episode of Inside Southeastern Baseball with Matt Riser, presented by Cretin-Townsend Homes, is slated for Monday at 12 p.m. from Cate Street Seafood Station in downtown Hammond. Fans can listen to every show online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via both the Lions Gameday Experience or TuneIn apps. The TuneIn 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
Jacksonville 6, Southeastern 2 (Mar 03, 2023 at Jacksonville, Fla.)
———————————————————————-
Southeastern …….. 001 010 000 – 2 8 1 (7-3)
Jacksonville ……… 300 012 00X – 6 9 2 (7-4)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Southeastern – Stuprich, Brennan; O’Toole, Hunter (6); Rodriguez, Jackson (8) and Manola, Connor. Jacksonville – Evan Chrest; Leighton Alley (8) and Colin Wetterau.

Win-Evan Chrest (1-0) Loss-Stuprich, Brennan (1-1) T-2:21 A-302
HR JU – Chase Malloy (2); Kris Armstrong (4).
Weather: 81 degrees, windy