HAMMOND - The Southeastern softball team will open its 2005 season on Friday, hosting the three-day, nine-team Lion Classic at North Oak Park.

Southeastern will be one member of the tournament field that includes Jackson State, Louisiana Tech, Southern, Samford, Alcorn State, Grambling, Mississippi Valley State and Troy State. The Lady Lions officially kick off the tournament on Friday at 10 a.m., hosting Jackson State.

The Lady Lions will also play at 5:30 p.m. versus Samford on Friday. On Saturday, Southeastern plays Alcorn State at 10 a.m. and Louisiana Tech at 5:30 p.m. The tournament concludes on Sunday, when Southeastern faces Samford at 10 a.m. and Troy State at 12:30 p.m.

Southeastern is coming off a 23-25 season in 2004, when they fell just short of a Southland Conference Tournament berth. The Lady Lions return nine letterwinners from last season's squad, which was peaking towards the end of the season.

Senior catcher Karin Smith - a First-Team All-SLC and All-Louisiana selection in 2004 - will be looked upon as the leader of the Southeastern squad. Smith, a native of Puyallup, Wash., is the school's career home run leader after a monster season a year ago. Smith set school single-season records for home runs (15) and slugging percentage (.757) in 2004, while leading the team with a .368 batting average and 46 runs batted in.

Smith anchors a lineup that will include returnees Becki de la Garza (.253, 4 HR, 19 RBI, team-high 11 2B), Katie Szmergalski (5 2B), Amy Ford (6 2B, 15 RBI), Kelli Gautreau (2 HR, 12 RBI) and Lisa Chapman (.216). The returning nucleus, along with newcomers Brooke Lockhart, Diane Darnley and Carly Harris will make Southeastern a much more imposing offensive threat in 2005.

Junior Summer Delaneuville - the 2004 Louisiana Newcomer of the Year - returns as the ace of the Southeastern pitching staff. The LaPlace native finished 16-10 a year ago with a 2.14 ERA on the way to earning All-SLC and All-Louisiana honors. Freshman Devin King, a native of Denham Springs, will likely hold down the No. 2 spot in the rotation, while sophomore Rachel Ray, along with freshmen Lacy Kirkland and Jessica Sander will vie for time in the circle.

Southeastern will be opening its season at home for the first time since the 2000 season. After this weekend, the Lady Lions will not be back at home until March 19th for a three-game series with SLC foe Texas-Arlington.

LION CLASSIC SCHEDULE

Friday, February 11

Field One
10 a.m. - Southeastern vs. Jackson State
12:30 p.m. - Grambling vs. Jackson State
3 p.m. - Southern vs. Troy State
5:30 p.m. - Southeastern vs. Samford

Field Two
10 a.m. - Louisiana Tech vs. Southern
12:30 p.m. - Mississippi Valley State vs. Alcorn State
3 p.m. - Mississippi Valley State vs. Grambling
5:30 p.m. - Louisiana Tech vs. Troy State

Field Three
10 a.m. - Samford vs. Alcorn State

Saturday, February 12

Field One
10 a.m. - Southeastern vs. Alcorn State
12:30 p.m. - Grambling vs. Alcorn State
3 p.m. - Jackson State vs. Louisiana Tech
5:30 p.m. - Southeastern vs. Louisiana Tech

Field Two
10 a.m. - Samford vs. Mississippi Valley State
12:30 p.m. - Samford vs. Southern
3 p.m. - Mississippi Valley State vs. Southern
5:30 p.m. - Troy State vs. Samford

Field Three
10 a.m. - Troy State vs. Jackson State

Sunday, February 13

Field One
10 a.m. - Southeastern vs. Troy State
12:30 p.m. - Southeastern vs. Mississippi Valley State

Field Two
10 a.m. - Louisiana Tech vs. Samford
12:30 p.m. - Southern vs. Grambling

Field Three
10 a.m. - Jackson State vs. Alcorn State