LAKE CHARLES, La. – For the second time in as many games, McNeese walked off the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team, 6-4, with a home run in Southland Conference action at Joe Miller Ballpark.
Southeastern (17-22, 7-7 SLC) led, 4-2, entering the ninth, but the Cowboys (22-17, 8-6 SLC) rallied to tie the game before Brad Burckel’s opposite-field, two-run home run provided the winning margin.
The Lions took an early, 2-0, lead in the second inning. Champ Artigues pulled a two-out double off the wall in right-center field before Tristan Welch launched his sixth homer of the season.
McNeese left fielder Julian Gonzales answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning, cutting the Lions’ lead in half.
Lake Charles native Adam Guth locked into a pitchers’ duel with Cowboy starter Chance Stone over the next several innings.
Leading 2-1, SLU chased Stone from the game in the sixth. With one out, Preston Faulkner and Shea Thomas knocked back-to-back singles to put runners on the corner. Champ Artigues laid down a squeeze bunt off reliever Tyler Stone, bringing home Faulkner to pad the Lions’ lead.
The Cowboys answered almost immediately. Guth walked the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the inning before surrendering back-to-back singles. Earlier in the ballgame, Guth worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam without allowing a run.
This time Southeastern went to the bullpen for Dalton Aspholm. The junior right-hander from Baton Rouge, Louisiana minimized the damage, allowing one run on a sacrifice fly.
Aspholm shut down the Cowboy bats, striking out six batters during his three-inning stint.
SLU added a run to its lead once again in the seventh. Pierce Leavengood drew a leadoff walk. Pinch-runner Nick Ray advanced to second base on a passed ball before scoring on Rhett Rosevear’s two-out single to center.
The Lions handed the ball over to Gage Trahan in the ninth to close it out, but McNeese rallied for four runs.
Tyler Stone (1-0) earned the win, allowing one unearned run in 3.2 innings of relief. He surrendered one hit and a pair of walks, striking out three. Trahan (2-3) was saddled with the loss for the second time in the series, allowing four runs in 0.2 innings pitched.
UP NEXT
The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. Neither team has announced a starting pitcher for the series finale.
Fans in the Hammond area can listen to the game broadcast online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via 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).
There will be no over-the-air radio broadcast of the weekend series.
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 by 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
McNeese 6, Southeastern 4 (Apr 23, 2022 at Lake Charles, La.)
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Southeastern ……. 020 001 100 – 4 6 0 (17-22, 7-7 SLC)
McNeese …………. 010 001 004 – 6 12 0 (22-17, 8-6 SLC)
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Pitchers: Southeastern – Guth, Adam; Aspholm, Dalton (6); Trahan, Gage (9) and Grizzaffi, Bryce. McNeese – Stone, Chance; Stone, Tyler (6) and Hunter, Kade.
Win-Stone, Tyler (1-0) Loss-Trahan, Gage (2-3) T-2:53 A-830
HR SLU – Welch, Tristan (6).
HR MCN – Burckel, Brad (6); Gonzales, Julian (4).
Weather: Clear & Sunny
Guth, A. faced 3 batters in the 6th.
{Courtesy: release from Southeastern}