Southeastern splits Southland baseball doubleheader at UIW

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Southeastern Louisiana split a Southland Conference doubleheader Saturday against Incarnate Word, dropping the opening game, 5-0 in seven innings, and winning the nightcap, 7-6, at Sullivan Field, sponsored by HEB.

After being shutout in the opener, the Southeastern (12-7, 5-2 Southland) bats came alive in the fifth inning of the second game of the doubleheader. The Lions scored seven unanswered runs before UIW (7-5, 4-3 Southland) attempted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth.

With the victory, Southeastern snaps a three-game losing streak and earns its first road win of the season.

The series wraps up Sunday at 1 p.m. The Cardinals are also undecided on a starter for the series finale while Southeastern plans to start freshman right-hander Brennan Stuprich (1-0, 2.25).

Sunday’s game can be heard in the Hammond area 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 and TuneIn Radio apps.

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

GAME 1 – UIW 5, Southeastern 0 (7 innings)
UIW starting pitcher Isaiah Zavala (3-0) tossed a four-hit shutout as the Cardinals took the first game of the doubleheader.

Southeastern picked up half its hits in the first inning on back-to-back singles by Eli Johnson and Jacob Burke, but Preston Faulkner grounded into an inning-ending double play – one of three the Lions hit into in the first three innings of the game.

The Cardinals scratched across a run in the fourth with the help of three singles and then ended the pitcher’s duel with four runs in the sixth.

Zavala earned the win, surrendering four hits and four walks in seven innings pitched. He struck out six. Will Warren (3-1) suffered the loss, allowing five runs – three earned – in 5.1 innings of work. He surrendered seven hits and one walk, striking out four batters.

GAME 2 – Southeastern 7, UIW 6
UIW picked up single runs in each of the first two innings off starting pitcher Daniel Dugas and the added a pair in the fourth off reliever Ryan Keeley.

Down 4-0 entering the fifth, the Lions cut the deficit in half. Eli Johnson lined a two-out single up the middle and scored on Jacob Burke’s team-leading fourth home run of the season.

Southeastern pulled within a run in the seventh. Evan Keller led off the inning with a double to left-center field. He advanced to third on Johnson’s single to left and then scored on Burke’s RBI single through the right side.

The Lions tied up the game in the eighth. Tyler Finke was hit by a two-out pitch. Following a Cardinal pitching change, Finke stole second and then scored on Keller’s RBI single to left.

Burke and Faulkner gave the Lions the lead in the ninth. Burke drew a leadoff walk then stole second, advancing to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Faulkner drove him in with an RBI single through the left side. After Christian Garcia and Gaby Cruz were both hit by pitches, an infield single by Nick Ray plated Faulkner. Following a fielder’s choice, Cruz scored from third on a fly ball.

UIW scratched across a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, but reliever Cole Hoskins stranded a pair of runners as he shut the door to earn his second save of the season.

Kyle Bartley (2-1) earned the win, tossing four shutout innings in long relief. The freshman from Lake Charles, Louisiana allowed just one hit and one walk, striking out five. Johnny Foral (1-1) suffered the loss, allowing two runs in 0.1 innings pitched.

Burke, Faulkner, Johnson and Keller picked up a pair of hits each for the Lions.