HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team earned its fifth comeback victory of the season Friday in dramatic fashion, defeating red-hot Tennessee Tech, 2-1, in 10 innings at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
Both starting pitchers were dominant, setting the tone for a fast-paced game.
Tennessee Tech (10-2) picked up a run right out of the gate before SLU (6-8) starter Will Kinzeler had a chance to settle in. Golden Eagle leadoff hitter Ed Johnson hit a solo home run, his fourth of the season, to open up the action.
Kinzeler recovered to strike out five of the next eight batters, shutting down for the next nine innings a Golden Eagle squad that came in hitting .348 collectively.
Meanwhile, Tennessee Tech starter Peyton Calitri proved to be just as effective. The right-hander held Southeastern hitless for 7.1 innings, allowing just one base runner – a second-inning walk to Champ Artigues – in that span.
Artigues broke up the no-hitter in the eighth with a one-out single to center, snapping a string of 17 consecutive batters retired by Calitri.
Still a 1-0 game heading to the bottom of the ninth, Calitri issued a leadoff walk to pinch-hitter Pierce Leavengood. The Golden Eagles went to the bullpen for reliever Brock Myers and SLU sent in Tyler Finke as a pinch-runner.
Myers hit Rhett Rosevear, the first batter he faced, with a pitch. After the Lions failed to sacrifice the runners up, Myers had Evan Keller down in the count, 1-2, when he hit him with a pitch to load the bases. With two outs and Connor Manola at the plate, Southeastern pulled off a triple steal as Finke swiped home for the tying run. It was the Lions’ first straight steal of home since Keller accomplished the feat last season against Nicholls (May 8, 2021).
Kinzeler’s day was done after surrendering a leadoff single in the 10th. Gage Trahan came on in relief to retire the next three batters and strand the runner at second base.
The Lions scratched across the winning run in the bottom of the inning. Christian Garcia drew a one-out walk, advancing to second on Jake Johnson’s pop-fly single to shallow left field. Trey Harrington, who had entered the game in the top half of the inning as a defensive replacement at third base, came up to the plate with runners at first and second and one out.
Harrington pulled a ground ball to the shortstop. As the Golden Eagles attempted to turn a double play, Johnson was erased at second before the relay throw to first. Garcia never slowed on the play, rounding third and coming home as Harrington was called out at first.
Following multiple uses of instant replay, the call was overturned with Harrington ruled safe at first as Garcia slid home safely with the winning run.
Trahan (1-0) earned the win, working a scoreless inning in relief. Myers (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing one run in 1.2 innings pitched. He allowed one hit, one walk and hit two batters, striking out three.
Kinzeler, who did not factor in the decision, allowed one run on six hits in nine innings pitched. He did not walk a batter and struck out nine. Calitri, the Golden Eagle starter, allowed one run on one hit in eight innings of work. He walked two and struck out three.
UP NEXT
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. and will air on ESPN+. Senior right-hander Hunter O’Toole (0-2, 6.75) draws the Lions’ starting assignment opposite Tennessee Tech junior right-hander Carter Gannaway (2-0, 2.40).
Fans can also listen to the game broadcast 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 this weekend 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 2, Tennessee Tech 1 (Mar 11, 2022 at Hammond, La.)
———————————————————————-
Tennessee Tech … 100 000 000 0 – 1 6 0 (10-2)
Southeastern …….. 000 000 001 1 – 2 2 0 (6-8)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: Tennessee Tech – Calitri, Peyton; Myers, Brock (9) and Long, Will. Southeastern – Kinzeler, Will; Trahan, Gage (10) and Manola, Connor.
Win-Trahan, Gage (1-0) Loss-Myers, Brock (3-1) T-2:39 A-941
HR TTU – Johnson, Ed (4).
Weather: 72 Cloudy, N 1 mph
Calitri faced 1 batter in the 9th.
Kinzeler faced 1 batter in the 10th.
{Courtesy: Southeastern Athletics}
