Despite the rainy weather last weekend, over 50 alumni including major league players such as Jeff Williams showed up to support the baseball team’s games which ended in victory.
After a 5 hour and 43 minute delay, the Lion’s baseball team finished the day with a sweep of the double header against Houston Baptist (19-23, 9-12 Southland). This put the Lion’s at 30-13, 18-3 Southland. The day’s rain did not stop the major leaguers and hall of famers who were among the alumni in the turn-out.
The game began with opening pitches from both Kirk Bullinger and Jeff Williams. Bullinger played for the Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros. Williams played for the Dodgers and Hanshin Tigers. Bullinger was happy to see other alums.
“Some of the older guys we don’t get to see very often,” said Bullinger. “It’s always nice to see familiar faces and reminisce about the old times and great times we had here at Southeastern.”
Bullinger is a native of Metairie and left the university in 1992. It’s different compared to when he was here and he said the changes were “all for the better.”
Williams is a native of Canberra, Australia. He stayed in Tucker Hall, the residential building which has since been torn down. He also has not been back since he studied at the university. Although there have been changes, he said it is nostalgic for him to be here.
“I still get the same feeling,” said Williams. “The stands have changed a little bit. The scoreboard and fence and stuff has changed a bit. Obviously the players have changed, but just being in the same place gives me the same feeling inside of course.”
Williams was eager to take a tour of the university after the game. Two more major leaguers were there at the game to support their fellow lions for life, Kevin Morgan of the New York Mets and Carl Schutz of the Atlanta Braves, both were happy to be back.
“It’s great,” said Morgan. “I haven’t been back in a long time, so it’s great to see all the changes to the field. It’s great to see all of the guys. A lot of the guys I haven’t seen since I played with them”
Morgan said he drove through the area around Christmas, but was unable to see the university in-depth.
Those who stayed for the games got to see the Lions beat the Huskies 18-2 in the first game of the double header. Jameson Fisher hit a one-out pitch to deep right-center field in the third inning for the third grand-slam of the season. Also, designated hitter Daniel Midyett hit his third home-run of the season in in the fifth inning.
The Lion’s crushed the Huskies once again in the second game of the double-header finishing 13-3. Schutz was happy to be able to see the game.
“It’s great man,” said Schutz. “It’s exciting. It’s fun watching these young guys man. They’ve got a long road ahead of them, and they all got that same drive.”
To find out more about last Saturday’s baseball games, look for baseball on lionsports.net.