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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville scored five runs in the first inning Sunday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field, averting a series sweep with a 10-3 win over the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team.

The Cougars (1-2) strung together four consecutive one-out singles off Southeastern (2-1) starting pitcher Hunter O’Toole (0-1). Following a strikeout, SIUE drove in a pair of runs each on a single and a double.

After the first, O’Toole settled in and retired nine in a row. The senior right-hander from Arkansas City, Kansas struck out a career-high 10 batters in five-plus innings of work.

SLU shaved a run off the deficit in the third on a leadoff home run by Tristan Welch. It was the first home run of the season for the native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Right-hander Reid Reynolds, a junior from Heidelberg, Mississippi, worked a pair of scoreless innings in relief for the Lions, but eventually, SIUE tacked on a few more runs late.

In the ninth, Southeastern rallied for a pair of runs. Christian Garcia led off with a single to right-center field. Pinch hitters Jake Johnson and Pierce Leavengood both worked walks to load the bases. Garcia scored on Champ Artigues’ RBI groundout and Johnson later scored on a wild pitch by Cougar reliever Spencer Smith.

Collin Baumgartner (1-0) earned the win in a designated short start, surrendering one run in three innings of work. O’Toole suffered the loss, allowing seven runs in five innings pitched.

Welch, who also singled in the sixth inning, finished with a pair of hits for the Lions.

Southeastern returns to action Tuesday in Lafayette. First pitch against UL Lafayette (2-1) is scheduled for 6 p.m. at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park.

RADIO SHOW

The 2022 debut episode of Inside Southeastern Baseball with Matt Riser, presented by Pour House Pizza and Beer Garden, will be 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

SIU Edwardsville 10, Southeastern 3 (Feb 20, 2022 at Hammond, La.)

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SIU Edwardsville …. 500 011 003  – 10 15  0      (1-2)

Southeastern ……… 001 000 002  –   3   5  0      (2-1)

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Pitchers: SIU Edwardsville – Baumgartner, Collin; Bruninga, Taylor (4); Bockenstedt, Jake (7); Smith, Spencer (9) and Stallcup, John. Southeastern – O’Toole, Hunter; Reynolds, Reid (6); Potter, Alex (8); Yuratich, Andrew (9) and Grizzaffi, Bryce; Manola, Connor.

Win-Baumgartner, Collin (1-0)  Loss-O’Toole, Hunter (0-1)  T-2:51  A-1032

HR SIUE – Johnson, Brett (1); Bunten, Brady (1).

HR SLU – Welch, Tristan (1).

Weather: 67 Partly Cloudy, SE 9 mph

O’Toole, H. faced 2 batters in the 6th.

Potter, A. faced 2 batters in the 9th.