HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team will host the three-day, eight-team Lion Classic at North Oak Park beginning Friday to open the 2011 season.

The Lady Lions will face Akron on Friday at 5:30 p.m. to open tournament play. On Saturday, Southeastern faces Tennessee-Martin at 3 p.m. and St. Louis on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The tournament wraps up with games versus Missouri-Kansas City at 10 a.m. and Southern at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Live stats for all of Southeastern's games will be available at LionSports.net. Jackson State and Nicholls will also be part of the tournament field.

Senior Katie Duhe is the top returning player for Southeastern. A preseason first team All-Southland choice, Duhe hit .363 a season ago with five home runs and 23 runs batted in. She enters the season on a 14-game hitting streak, which is tied for the longest in school history. A base hit in Friday's opener will give her the record by herself.

Duhe is one of three returning All-Southland performers for the Lady Lions, along with juniors Meghan Gomez and Jordan Logan. Gomez led Southeastern in home runs (seven) and runs scored (25) for the second straight season in 2010, while Logan had a team-high 50 hits to go with her .303 batting average.

Sophomore Kelsey Nichols, who made the most of increased playing time to finish 2010 with a .319 batting average, also returns. Junior Katie Matthews and freshman Jessie Browne are among the newcomers expecting to bolster the Lady Lion lineup.

In the circle, sophomore Kati Morse is expected to be much improved with a season of collegiate experience under her belt. Morse, along with newcomers Browne and sophomore Kenna Terry, are expected to handle the majority of the starting duties as the season opens.

Senior Tamra Ladnier leads the Lady Lion defensive efforts, as she returns for her fourth year as the Southeastern starting first baseman. Freshmen Megan McCollum (second base) and Hali Westmoreland (catcher) have impressed with their glove work.

Friday's opponent, Akron, is coming off a 20-34 record in 2010. Alex Feltes is the top returning hitter for the Zips, after hitting .373 a year ago. Heather Bauer (8-7, 3.41 ERA) is the ace of the Akron pitching staff.

Southeastern will open Saturday against defending OVC Champion UT-Martin. Jenny Bain (11 home runs, 45 RBI) and Kate Vanderham (16-4, 1.65 ERA) are the top returners for the Skyhawks, who finished 47-11 a season ago.

The Lady Lions take on St. Louis in Saturday's nightcap. Kristin Nicoletti (.348, 40 SB) is the Billikens top returner on offense, while Hannah Huebbe (15-13, 2.22 ERA) and Kelcie Matesa (14-11, 2.58 ERA) give St. Louis a top pitching tandem.

On Sunday, Southeastern opens the day versus UMKC, which returns three of its top hitters in Kelly Fischer (.363), Emily Ott (.346) and Anna Sokolik (.344). Sokolik is also the team's top returner in the circle, after posting a 10-8 record and 3.40 earned run average.

Shawntal Steamer (.364) and Kasha Tauriac (.362) are the top returners for Southern, Southeastern's final opponent on Sunday. Caroline Myers (2-6, 9.46 ERA) is the most experienced pitcher for the Lady Jaguars.

Following the tournament, Southeastern will hit the road to face LSU at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 16 in Baton Rouge.

2011 Lion Classic Schedule – Feb. 11-13 – Hammond, La. – North Oak Park

Friday, February 11

Field One
3 p.m. - St. Louis vs. Southern
5:30 p.m. - Southeastern vs. Akron

Field Two
3 p.m. - UMKC vs. Jackson State
5:30 p.m. - Southern vs. Jackson State

Field Three
5:30 p.m. - Nicholls vs. Tennessee-Martin

Saturday, February 12

Field One
10 a.m. - UMKC vs. Southern
12:30 p.m. - Nicholls vs. St. Louis
3 p.m. - Southeastern vs. Tennessee-Martin
5:30 p.m. - Southeastern vs. St. Louis

Field Two
10 a.m. - Tennessee-Martin vs. Jackson State
3 p.m. - Akron vs. Jackson State
5:30 p.m. - Akron vs. Southern

Field Three
10 a.m. - Akron vs. St. Louis
3 p.m. - Nicholls vs. UMKC
5:30 p.m. - Tennessee-Martin vs. UMKC

Sunday, February 13

Field One
10 a.m. - Southeastern vs. UMKC
12 p.m. - Southeastern vs. Southern

Field Two
10 a.m. - Akron vs. Nicholls
12 p.m. - Jackson State vs. Nicholls

Field Three
10 a.m. - Tennessee-Martin vs. St. Louis