SLU Falls at No. 22-ranked Southern Miss
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team fell late, 5-4, to No. 22-ranked Southern Miss at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.
For the second time in eight days, Golden Eagle second baseman Nick Monistere hit a game-winning home run to defeat Southeastern (31-10). The loss to Southern Miss (28-13) snapped a seven-game winning streak on the road for the Lions.
SLU jumped out in front first, 1-0, in the third inning.
Peyton Woods led off the inning with a single down the left-field line off reliever Kros Sivley. TJ Salvaggio and Conner O’Neal delivered back-to-back singles with two outs off reliever Ty Long, the latter bringing home Woods.
The Golden Eagles bounced back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame, the second scoring on a Southeastern throwing error.
Truit Webb relieved Chase Ambrose with one out in the fourth, retiring all seven batters he faced as the Lions attempted to erase their one-run deficit.
Ben Robichaux drew a leadoff walk in the seventh from reliever Brooks Willoughby. With one out, Woods dropped an RBI single into right field. Robichaux scored from first to tie the score after the right fielder misplayed the ball.
Giovanni Licciardi followed with a two-run home run to left field, putting the Lions back on top, 4-2. It was the first homer of Licciardi’s SLU career.
Southern Miss scratched a run across in the bottom of the inning, pulling back within one, while a leadoff walk in the eighth eventually led to the tying run for the Golden Eagles.
In the ninth, Monistere launched a one-out pitch over the left-center wall to end the game.
Colby Allen (4-4) earned the win, tossing a pair of shutout innings to close out the game. Aiden Vosburg (2-3) suffered the loss, allowing one run in 1.1 innings pitched.
Salvaggio (2-for-5) and Woods (2-for-4) produced multiple hits for the Lions.
UP NEXT
Southeastern (16-5 SLC) returns to conference action this weekend in another key Southland series at Houston Christian (22-16, 14-7 SLC). Games are slated for 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Husky Field in Houston, Texas.
SLU is tied for first in the conference standings with McNeese (16-5 SLC). The Cowboys travel to third-place UTRGV (17-7 SLC) this weekend. HCU is in fourth place, two games out of first.
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 the 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 [email protected] or (985) 549-5091 or by visiting www.LionUp.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Southeastern Baseball social media accounts (@LionUpBaseball) on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to stay engaged with the program.
The latest updates are also available at www.LionSports.net and the Lions Gameday Experience app. Available for both Android and iOS devices, the Gameday app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
#LionUp
