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The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team claimed a grinding, 1-0 win Friday over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, opening up the 2022 season at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

SLU (1-0) starting pitcher Will Kinzeler (1-0) carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, ultimately surrendering a pair of hits in six scoreless innings to earn the win. Southeastern pitchers combined to scatter five hits in the game.

The Lions put on the offensive pressure from the first pitch.

Evan Keller drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the first inning. After he was picked off, Rhett Rosevear was hit by a pitch. Preston Faulkner put a pair on with a two-out single, but Southeastern was unable to get a run home.

Newcomer Shea Thomas singled to lead off the second, eventually stealing second base, but the Lions were unable to bring him around.

Keller, who reached base in all four of his plate appearances, led off the third with a single. Back-to-back walks by Tyler Finke and Faulkner loaded the bases with one out, but once again SLU was unable to scratch across a run on the Cougar pitching staff as reliever Kaid Karnes (0-1) squelch the rally.

Leading off the fifth, Keller singled to left field. With one out, Finke pulled a double down the left-field line and SIUE elected to load the bases by issuing an intentional walk to Faulkner. This time the Lions broke through. Bryce Grizzaffi, one of Southeastern’s eight preseason All-Southland Conference selections, drove in the only run of the game with a single to left off of Karnes.

Southeastern had runners on in each of the final three innings but failed to pick up an insurance run.

The bullpen took over for Kinzeler in the seventh, with Gage Trahan striking out three in a pair of scoreless innings and Trey Harrington working the ninth for his first save of the season.

Grizzaffi, Keller and Thomas each picked up multiple hits for the Lions who had eight total in the game.

SLU picked up its third consecutive win in a season opener and its 12^th in the last 13 seasons.

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. Tickets can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets. Gameday parking is $5 per day for standard vehicles and $25 for RVs.

Junior right-hander Hayden Robb, a transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, draws the Lions’ starting assignment Saturday opposite SIUE senior right-hander Brant Glidewell (6-1, 4.45).

Prior to Saturday’s game is a special ceremony in memory of Lion for Life Kaleb “Mamou” Manuel. The former SLU player and coach, Manuel passed away in September following a lengthy battle with cancer.

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.

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.

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.

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 1, SIU Edwardsville 0 (Feb 18, 2022 at Hammond, La.)

———————————————————————-

SIU Edwardsville …. 000 000 000   –  0  5  0      (0-1)

Southeastern ………… 000 010 00X  –  1  8  0      (1-0)

———————————————————————-

Pitchers: SIU Edwardsville – Matheny, Noah; Karnes, Kaid (3); Bockenstedt, Jake (7) and Stallcup, John. Southeastern – Kinzeler, Will; Trahan, Gage (7); Harrington, Trey (9) and Grizzaffi, Bryce.

Win-Kinzeler, Will (1-0)  Save-Harrington, Trey (1)  Loss-Karnes, Kaid (0-1)  T-2:47  A-945

Weather: 51 Mostly Cloudy, N 9 mph

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