CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team returns to action on Wednesday when it faces in-state rival McNeese State in the Southland Conference Tournament at Whataburger Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. Free video streaming, courtesy of SLC Now, is also available at www.LionSports.net and www.Southland.org.

Southeastern (39-17), the No. 3 seed in the eight-team tournament, makes its third consecutive appearance – equaling a streak last set from 1992-94 – and its fifth overall appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament where it has posted a 7-8 record. In last season's tournament, Southeastern opened with a 9-2 loss to eventual tournament champion Sam Houston State before eliminating Northwestern State and UTSA.

Cody Gougler, one of six Lions named to the All-Southland Conference team, leads Southeastern at the plate with a .328 average followed by Jeff Harkensee at .326. Joe Sparacino (.313-7-29), Justin Boudreaux (.312-13-66), Josh Cryer (.311-5-43) and Cass Hargis (.305-1-41) are next in hitting for Southeastern, which enters the postseason with a .297 average while leading the Southland Conference in on-base percentage (.411), runs scored (437) and hit-by-pitches (115).

Junior right-hander Brandon Efferson (8-4, 3.81 ERA) will start on the mound for Southeastern, which sports the league's second best team ERA (4.23) and leads the conference with 16 saves.

McNeese State (29-25), the No. 6 seed in the tournament, has dropped seven of its last 10 games. The Cowboys, who are making their ninth appearance in the Southland Conference tournament, joins the field for the first time since 2007. The Cowboys are looking for their first tournament win 2003 when it went 3-1 and beat UT Arlington for their second tournament championship.

McNeese State, which also won the tournament championship in 1993, is 11-13 in its eight previous appearances. The Cowboys have won the tournament both times it reached the championship game.

Steven Irvine leads McNeese State at the plate with a .358 average and 61 RBI. Jace Peterson (.356-4-47) is next in hitting for the Cowboys, who are averaging .308 as a team, followed by Andy Riche' (.340-4-35), Jordan Venable (.317-3-23) and Blake Ellender (.312-7-33).

Right-hander Jaden Dillon (8-0, 4.40 ERA) will start on the mound for McNeese State. Dillon pitched 10 innings in a 4-3 win over Southeastern on March 21, and earned a win in his first career start.

The winner will face the Northwestern State-Lamar winner on Thursday at 4 p.m. with the loser playing in an elimination game at 9 a.m.

The Southland Conference Tournament winner will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.