Cryer Named Academic All-American

Senior 3B Josh Cryer was recently named a 2nd Team Academic All-American on the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America Baseball Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).  Cryer becomes the first baseball player in SLU history and the 13th overall SLU student-athlete to earn Academic All-America honors.

On Deck - SLC Tourney

#4 SLU Lions (0-1) vs #1 Texas State Bobcats (0-1)
SLC Tourney - Elimination Game
Bobcat Ballpark - San Marcos, TX
Noon Thursday May 26

CLICK HERE FOR SLC TOURNEY INFO

On Deck - SLC Tournament

Southland Conference Tournament
#4 Lions (35-20, 18-14 SLC) vs #5 Sam Houston Bearkats (34-22, 17-16 SLC)
Bobcat Ballpark - San Marcos, TX
4pm Wednesday May 25

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT FIELD

CLICK HERE FOR TOURNAMENT INFO

Lions Place Seven on All-SLC Team

The SLU Lions placed seven members on the 2011 All-Southland Conference Teams by a vote of league coaches and sports information directors.  Leading the way was SS Justin Boudreaux, RHP Tyler Watkins, and RHP Brandon Efferson, who were selected to the 2nd Team.

Watkins, Hargis Get Honorable Mention Honors

Seniors Tyler Watkins and Cass Hargis were named honorable mention Southland Conference Player of Week for their performances his past weekend against Northwestern State.  Watkins was named honorable mention Pitcher of the Week as he tossed his 5th complete game of the season in the Lions 5-0 win over the Demons on Thursday night.  Watkins ran his record to 10-3, as he scattered eight hits, walked one, and struck out two.  Hargis, who notched his 298th hit on Friday night, hit .500 (4-8) in the series.  The senior OF went 3-5, with a triple, RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases in the Lions 5-0 win.  On Friday night he went 1-3, with a run scored and a stolen base.

SLC Players of the Week

SLU Splits with Demons, Gets 4 Seed in Tourney

The SLU Lions split their season series finale with Northwestern State winning game one 5-0 and falling to the Demons 13-3 in game two.  Due to standing water in the outfield at Brown-Stroud Field game three of the series was cancelled and will not be made up.  Not playing the game coupled with Texas A&M Corpus Christi's win over Sam Houston on Saturday left the Islanders a half game ahead of the Lions in the standings, which pushes SLU to the four seed in the Southland Conference tournament.

Lions Celebrate Their Own

Check out this player-made video commemorating Senior Day at The Pat.
View here

From the Dugout with Tyler Watkins

Tyler Watkins

To get an inside look at what it is like to be a member of the 2011 Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team, ILB has asked senior RHP Tyler Watkins to write a weekly journal giving the Lion Nation a behind the scenes look at one of the top programs in the Southland Conference. To read all of Tyler's weekly journals you can click on his picture on the left menu.

Here is journal #7 for the 2011 season.

On Deck - Lions vs Northwestern State

SLU Lions (34-19, 17-13 SLC) vs Northwestern State Demons (21-31, 10-20 SLC)
Brown-Stroud Field - Natchitoches, LA
Game 1:  6:30pm Thursday May 19
Game 2:  6:30pm Friday May 20
Game 3:  2pm Saturday May 21

Senior Send-Off at The Pat

Sunday, May 15, was the final home game of the Lions 2011 season.  On this day the seniors were celebrated at "Senior Day".  Each was presented on the field with their family and given a framed jersey bearing their uniform number.
It was an emotional day at The Pat as this roster includes several 3+ year members of the Lions Baseball Program.
Congrats to all the baseball seniors and their families.

Player-Graduates Tip Their Hats

On Saturday, May 14th Southeastern LA University held its Spring Commencement at the UC.  Well the Lions Baseball team had a game on that day, so the player-graduates were recognized on the field pre-game.  Shown above are Josh Cryer, Matt Fowler (student/coaching asst), Joe "Bear" Sparacino, Jacob Ott, Jared Ashford, Trey Martin, Cass Hargis, and Jeff Harkensee.  Not pictured is pitcher Tyler Watkins who tipped his hat from the bullpen.
Congratulations to each of these very special student-athletes!

Watkins Garners Honorable Mention Honor

Senior RHP Tyler Watkins was named honorable mention Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week for his performance this past week that saw him earn two wins on Saturday.  Watkins pitched two innings in relief of the Lions extra inning 5-4 win over SFA, which was completed on Saturday due to the rain.  Then in his scheduled start the Petal, MS native pitched 5.2 innings and struck out four in the Lions 9-4 series clinching victory. 

Watkins Named SLU Student Athlete of the Week

After earning the rare feat of winning two games in one day senior RHP Tyler Watkins has been named the Southeastern Male Student Athlete of the Week.  Watkins earned two wins in the three game series with Stephen F. Austin over the weekend.  In game one, which was suspended Friday night due to rain, the Petal, MS native pitched two innings in relief as the Lions won 5-4.  Watkins then was the winning pitcher in the Lions 9-4 series clinching victory as he pitched 5.2 innings with 4 strike outs.  Watkins leads the SLC with nine wins.

WATKINS NAMED SLU STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

On Deck - Lions vs Stephen F. Austin

 SLU Lions (32-18, 15-12) vs Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (30-18, 17-10)
"The Pat" - Hammond, LA
Game 1:  6pm Friday May 13
Game 2:  2pm Saturday May 14
Game 3:  1pm Sunday May 15 (Senior Day)

Cryer Awarded Southland's Ultimate Academic Honor

Senior Josh Cryer has been named a recipient of the F.L. McDonald Postgraduate Scholarship, which is awarded by the Southland Conference.  The award is given to graduating male and female letter winners with the highest cumulative GPA during their enrollment at Southland Conference universities.  This prestigious award is the SLC's ultimate academic honor for its top graduates.  CONGRATS JOSH!!!

CRYER AWARDED TOP SLC ACADEMIC HONOR

Lions Celebrate Mother's Day

It was a Mother's Day celebration at The Pat on Sunday, May 8th.  

Mothers in attendance received a free box of popcorn and those Lion player moms in attendance received a special yellow rose from their favorite Lion baseball player, their son of course!

The rose was handed to the moms after the ladies lined up across the diamond and threw out the "first pitch" to their sons.

It was a lovely day at the ballpark.  Thanks moms!

Gougler Named SLU Student Athlete of the Week

Junior OF Cody Gougler has been named the Southeastern Male Student Athlete of the Week for his performance this past week.  Gougler hit a double and belted a pair of home runs, as he drove in four runs in the Lions 15-4 win over Nicholls State on Sunday.  For the week Gougler hit safely in all four games hitting .571 with three multi hit games.  

Gougler Named Student Athlete of the Week

Cryer Earns Capitol One Academic All District Honors

Josh Cryer

Josh Cryer has been named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-District Baseball Team for the 3rd consecutive tear.  Cryer has maintained a 4.0 GPA in accounting and is a 2011 Lowe's SENIOR Class Award nominee.  In 2009-10 the Leesville, LA native was named the Southland Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as he is a six time member of the Southeastern President's List.

LSWA Names Gougler Hitter of the Week

The Louisiana Sports Writers Association named junior OF Cody Gougler as the Louisiana Hitter of the Week for his performance this past week.  The Huntsville, TX native hit .571 on the week with a double, 2 home runs, and 4 RBIs.  Gougler's week was highlighted by his 3-4 game in the Lions 15-4 win over Nicholls State on Sunday, where he hit a double and two home runs.  He hit safely in all four games and had three multi hit games in the weekend series against Nicholls.

Lions Drop Series to Nicholls State

It was an ugly weekend that ended with an offensive explosion.  The SLU Lions got roughed up by the Nichols State Colonels on Friday 7-3 then were 10 run ruled in Thibodaux on Saturday 11-1.  The Lions put up 11 hits in both games but could not muster the timely hits as the Colonels racked up a season high 16 hits on Friday then topped it with 17 hits on Saturday.  To make matters worst SLU committed five errors in the two games.

On Deck - Lions vs Nicholls State

SLU Lions (31-16, 14-10 SLC) vs Nicholls State Colonels (21-23, 10-14 SLC)
6pm Friday May 6 - "The Pat", Hammond, LA
3pm Saturday May 7 - Ray E. Didier Field, Thibodaux, LA
1pm Sunday May 8 - "The Pat", Hammond, LA

It was Breezy in the Big Easy as Lions Beat UNO

In weather more suited for an early season February game the SLU Lions beat the UNO Privateers 9-1 at Maestri Field in New Orleans Tuesday night.  With a steady 30 mph wind blowing in from left field and the temps in the low 50's the Lions were able to come up big in the 7th inning by putting five runs on the board.  Jacob Fisher led the way for the Lions going 2-3 with 2 RBI and breaking the ice (yes it was cold out there) with a RBI single up the middle scoring pinch runner Alex Marse for the Lions first run.

Lion Up

This is how you "Lion Up"

SLU baseball videographer Todd Dunnington demonstrates to the Lion Nation how to "LION UP".  Bring your "Lion Up" signal to the The Pat this weekend as the Lions take on in-state conference rival Nicholls State.  Friday's game is for 6pm and Sunday's game is for 1pm.  SLU and the Colonels will play in Thibodaux on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 3pm.

Lion Up

On Deck - Lions vs University of New Orleans

SLU Lions (30-16, 14-10 SLC) vs UNO Privateers (3-42)
Maestri Field - New Orleans, LA
6:30pm Tuesday May 3

LSWA Names Greenleaf Louisiana Pitcher of the Week

Freshman RHP Jason Greenleaf was named Louisiana Pitcher of the Week by the Louisana Sports Writers Assocaition on Monday.  Greenleaf earned two saves in helping the Lions to a 4-1 week.  On Tuesday Greenleaf pitched 3.1 innings of relief, giving up no runs on no hits and striking out four in a 6-2 win over ULL.  He came back on Sunday and pitched three innings of no hit ball and retired all nine batters he faced in the Lions series clinching 4-2 victory over Sam Houston State.

Greenleaf, Harkensee Garner Honorable Mention Honors

RHP Jason Greenleaf and OF Jeff Harkensee were named honorable mention Southland Conference Players of the Week for their performances during the Lions 4-1 week.  Greenleaf earned honorable mention Pitcher of the Week, as he picked up two saves during the week.  The Covington, LA native pitched 6.1 innings combined against ULL on Tuesday night and against Sam Houston on Sunday, giving up no runs on no hits and striking out five.  Harkensee was named honorable mention Hitter of the Week as he ended the week with a HR, 2 2B, 2 3B, and 6 RBI while hitting .474 in the four games.

SLC Players of the Week

Harkensee Named SLU Student Athlete of the Week

Senior OF Jeff Harkensee was named Southeastern Male Student Athlete of the Week as he led the Lions to a 4-1 week.  Hark highlighted his week by finishing a double short of hitting for the cycle in a 15-5 win over UNO.  Over the weekend, the Arlington Heights native hit two doubles and triple in the Lions 10 inning 5-4 win over Sam Houston State.

Harkensee Named Student Athlete of the Week

SLU "Lions Up"; Takes Series From Sam Houston

"LION UP"

The catch phrase around the Lions clubhouse the last few weeks has been "Lion Up" which means lets play Lions Baseball by playing the game fast and putting pressure on opponents.  Well this weekend in Huntsville, TX the Sam Houston Bearkats witnessed first hand as SLU went "Lion Up" and earned a crucial Southland Conference road series victory and in the process picked up coach Jay Artigues 100th Southland Conference victory as the Lions skipper.