Southeastern drops UIW series opener in extras

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Southeastern Louisiana dropped the series opener to Incarnate, 6-5, Friday night in 13 innings at Sullivan Field, sponsored by HEB, handing the Lions their first Southland Conference loss of the season.

The Cardinals (6-4, 3-2 Southland) took an early, taking advantage of an errant pickoff attempt to eventually score an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning.

Southeastern (11-6, 4-1 Southland) tied it up in the third. Joe Delaney led off the inning with a single to left field, advancing to second base on a Tyler Finke sacrifice bunt. After moving up to third on a groundout, Delaney scored on Eli Johnson’s RBI single through the right side.

UIW regained the lead with two more unearned runs in the fourth, after a fielding error at first base extended the inning, and a passed ball in the sixth eventually led to another unearned run.

The Lions pulled within a run in the eighth. Tyler Finke led off the inning with doubles down the left-field line. Moving up to third on a groundout, Finke scored on a passed ball. Jacob Burke reached on a two-base error with two outs and came around to score on a pair of wild pitches by reliever Drew Minter.

Southeastern tied it up, 4-4, in the ninth. Gaby Cruz reached on catcher’s interference to open up the frame. Pinch runner Kenneth Bell III advanced to third on Nick Ray’s first hit of the game, a single through the right side. Bell scored on a double-play ground ball.

Both bullpens stranded runners for the next several innings before the Lions broke through in the 13th, taking their first lead of the game. Rhett Rosevear, a freshman from Denham Springs, Louisiana, ripped a two-out double inside the first-base bag and then scored on Ray’s single up the middle.

UIW loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning after a dropped foul ball kept the game alive. A base hit to left plated the tying and winning runs. None of the runs the Cardinals in the game were earned.

Reliever Michael Garza () earned the win, allowing two runs – one earned – in five innings pitched. He surrendered seven hits and struck out six batters. Noah Hughes () suffered the loss, allowing two unearned runs in 2.2 innings of work.

Ray (3-for-6) picked up multiple hits for the Lions.

UP NEXT
The series continues Saturday with a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Sullivan Field, sponsored by HEB. The first game of Saturday’s doubleheader is slated to be a seven-inning contest. If the first game goes extra innings, the second game would then become a seven-inning affair.

Right-hander Will Warren (3-0, 0.69) heads to the bump Saturday for the Lions opposite sophomore right-hander Isaiah Zavala (2-0, 1.59). Neither team has announced a starting pitcher for the second half of Saturday’s doubleheader.

There will be no local radio coverage or video stream of Saturday’s games. Other options to follow the action include live statistics and the @LionUpBaseball Twitter account. A link to live stats is available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.

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.
MOBILE TICKETING
Southeastern is implementing mobile ticketing as the primary method for securing tickets during the 2020-21 school year. 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.

SOCIAL DISTANCING ON GAMEDAYS
Proper social distancing techniques are required at all athletic events. Fans are asked to maintain a minimum distance of six feet from others, wear a face covering over both their nose and mouth, and wash their hands frequently. Hand sanitizing stations are located throughout Southeastern’s athletic facilities.

While tailgating is currently prohibited, current health and safety guidelines set forth by state and local officials due to the COVID-19 pandemic allow for 25 percent capacity at athletic events. Capacity will be adjusted as state guidelines allow.

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.