SLU wins Southland opener at Corpus Christi, 10-4

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 10-4, Friday at Chapman Field in the Southland Conference opener for both schools.

Southeastern (13-9, 1-0 SLC) won three of the five games it played last season against A&M-Corpus Christi (11-12, 0-1 SLC).

Southeastern took an early lead with three runs in the second inning. A one-out single by Connor Manola and a series of two-out errors by Islander starting pitcher Hayden Thomas put a pair of runners in scoring position. Dane Watts beat out an infield single, allowing a pair of runs to score. An errant pickoff attempt by Thomas put Watts in scoring position. He came home on Rhett Rosevear’s RBI single.

The Islanders scratched across a run in the fourth of SLU starting pitcher Brennan Stuprich, but the Lions responded with four runs in the fifth.

Watts led off the inning with his second hit of the game. He advanced to second on another errant pickoff attempt by Thomas and to third on a fielder’s choice. Tyler Finke brought Watts home with a sacrifice fly to center field. Shea Thomas chased Hayden Thomas from the game, depositing the baseball on the berm in left field for his third home run of the season.

Reliever Kyle Dickey walked Champ Artigues, the first batter he faced. After Artigues stole second base, Manola drove him in with an RBI double to left-center field.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Islander plated a pair thanks to a two-out hit batter and three consecutive hits.

Hunter O’Toole and Jackson Rodriguez combined to shut down the Islander offense over the final four innings as Southeastern added a run in the eighth and two more in the ninth.

Stuprich (2-2) earned the win, allowing three runs in five innings pitched. He surrendered seven hits and two walks, striking out three. Thomas (3-3) suffered the loss, allowing six runs – three earned – in 4.2 innings of work.

Manola (2-for-4) and Watts (2-for-4) turned in multiple hits for the Lions. Artigues, Clay Cook, Manola and Watts all scored a pair of runs each. Watts and Thomas both drove in a pair of runs.

UP NEXT
The series continues at 2 p.m. Saturday. Junior right-hander Will Kinzeler (4-0, 2.15) draws the starting assignment for the Lions while A&M-Corpus Christi will counter with right-hander Colin Purcell (2-0, 2.81).

Saturday’s game will be carried on ESPN+. Live stats will be available online at www.LionSports.net and in the Lions Gameday Experience app. Fans can also receive in-game updates on Twitter by following the @LionUpBaseball account