The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team shut out No. 8-ranked Oklahoma, 3-0, Tuesday in non-conference action at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
Five Southeastern (12-9) pitchers combined to hold the Sooners (17-4) to four hits and the Lion defense helped out by turning four inning-ending double plays.
Starting pitcher Nik Toups fired three hitless, shutout innings to get the ball rolling. The sophomore left-hander struck out five batters.
The Lions weathered the first Oklahoma threat of the game by turning a double play to end the fourth and then broke through in the bottom of the inning on an infield hit.
Connor Cuff led off the fourth with a double down the right-field line. He advanced to third on a groundout and then scored on Peyton Woods’ ground ball to first when Oklahoma reliever Trent Collier failed to cover the bag.
In the fifth, SLU left fielder Justin Williams doubled a runner off first to end the frame. Blaise Priester extended the Lion lead in the bottom of the inning, launching a massive home run to left field. The solo shot was his third of the season.
Southeastern’s final run of the game came in the eighth. Brody Capps led off with a single through the left side. Giovanni Licciardi moved him into scoring position with a perfectly-place sacrifice bunt up the first-base line. Capps advanced to third on Woods’ grounder to short, but the throw got away from the first baseman. Capps scored ahead of the recovery throw to the plate.
Levi Shaffer (1-0) earned his first collegiate win, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings in relief. Triston Todorowski picked up his first save of the season, retiring the side in order in both the eighth and ninth. Oklahoma starter Michael Catalano (1-2) suffered the loss, allowing one run in 3.2 innings pitched.
Southeastern also got shutout pitching from Larson Fabre (2.0 IP) and Logan Freche (0.2 IP).
Priester (3-for-3) and Cuff (2-for-4) turned in multiple hits for the Lions.
It was the first SLU win over a ranked opponent since the Lions defeated No. 11-ranked East Carolina at the Keith LeClair Classic, March 3, 2024, in Greenville, North Carolina and the program’s first shutout since topping McNeese, 6-0, March 21, 2025, in Hammond.
UP NEXT
Southeastern embarks on a four-game road trip, beginning with its weekend Southland Conference series at McNeese in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Games are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Joe Miller Ballpark.
Following the McNeese series, the Lions travel to No. 25-ranked UL Lafayette for a non-conference contest Tuesday at 6 p.m. at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park in Lafayette, Louisiana.
