SLU rallies for series-opening win over UAB

HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team rallied from a two-run deficit midway through Friday’s game at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field for a 7-4 win over UAB in the series opener.

SLU (3-2) manufactured a run in the first inning without a hit, but the Blazers (4-1) wiped out the early Southeastern lead with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth off Lion starting pitcher Will Kinzeler.

Two Southeastern runs in the bottom of the fifth tied the game. With one out, Evan Keller beat out an infield single to the shortstop. After a wild pitch advanced Keller to second base, Rhett Rosevear was hit by a pitch. The duo executed a double steal and later scored on Preston Faulkner’s two-out single down the right-field line.

SLU reliever Daniel Dugas, who took over in the sixth, shut down the Blazer bats. The right-hander from Pearl River, Louisiana struck out five in two scoreless innings of relief before handing the ball over to Gage Trahan and Trey Harrington.

Meanwhile, the Lions struck for four in the bottom of the seventh. Left fielder Jake Johnson greeted reliever Cameron Myers with a leadoff double over the center fielder’s head, eventually coming home to score on Keller’s RBI single off the first baseman’s glove. Rosevear followed with a single to left and then a passed ball allowed both runners to move into scoring position.

Tyler Finke greeted reliever Jonah Smith with an RBI single to right, driving in Keller. Finke then stole second base. After the count ran to 3-0 on Preston Faulkner, UAB opted to issue an intentional walk to load the bases. With one out, Bryce Grizzaffi completed the Lion scoring with a two-run single to right-center field.

The Blazers shaved a run off the SLU lead in the eighth, but Harrington worked a scoreless ninth to nail down his second save of the season. Dugas (1-0) picked up the win.

Grizzaffi (3-for-4) led the Lions at the plate, picking up three hits and driving in a pair. Keller (2-for-3) picked up a pair of hits, stole two bases and scored three runs. Faulkner and Finke drove in a pair each.

Southeastern stole six bases in the game.

UP NEXT
The series continues at 2 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+ with redshirt junior right-hander Hayden Robb (0-0, 5.40) drawing the Lions’ starting assignment opposite UAB senior right-hander Tyler O’Clair (1-0, 1.80).

Fans can listen 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).

Other options to follow the action include live statistics or the @LionUpBaseball Twitter account. Links to audio, video and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.

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.

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 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 7, UAB 4 (Feb 25, 2022 at Hammond, La.)
———————————————————————-
UAB …………….. 001 110 010 – 4 10 1 (4-1)
Southeastern …. 100 020 40X – 7 9 0 (3-2)
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Pitchers: UAB – Reynolds, Jackson; Myers, Carson (7); Smith, Jonah (7); Moza, Aiden (7); Harris, Leo (8) and Hunter, Henry. Southeastern – Kinzeler, Will; Dugas, Daniel (6); Trahan, Gage (8); Harrington, Trey (9) and Grizzaffi, Bryce.

Win-Dugas, Daniel (1-0) Save-Harrington, Trey (2) Loss-Myers, Carson (1-1) T-2:50 A-920
HR UAB – Hunter, Henry (1).
Weather: 50 Cloudy, NNE 8 mph
Myers faced 3 batters in the 7th.
Moza faced 1 batter in the 8th.