CONWAY, Ark. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team returns to action on Friday when it travels to face Southland Conference rival Central Arkansas in a three-game series at Bear Stadium.
First pitch in Friday's opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. The series resumes on Saturday at 4 p.m. (originally scheduled for 2 p.m.) with Sunday's finale set for 1 p.m. All three games can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. Live video and live statistics, courtesy of UCA, are also available at www.LionSports.net.
Southeastern (14-7, 4-2 SLC) has won its last two games, including an 11-5 win over New Orleans on Tuesday. The Lions snapped a three-game losing streak in an 8-4 win over McNeese State to salvage their second league series of the season.
Justin Boudreaux leads Southeastern at the plate hitting .419 while adding four home runs and 22 RBI.
Jonathan Pace, who enters the game with an 18-game hitting streak, is next at .414 followed by
Jeff Harkensee (.353-7-32) – the team leader in home runs and RBI.
Brock Hebert (.347-1-11),
Cody Gougler (.300-1-11),
Cass Hargis (.297-0-11) and
Josh Cryer (.290-1-13) are next in hitting for Southeastern, which posts a .303 average at the plate.
Southeastern will send right-hander
Brandon Efferson (3-1, 4.02 ERA) in Friday's opener before right-hander
Tyler Watkins (4-0, 2.21 ERA) will start on Saturday. Sunday's starter for the Lions is to be announced.
UCA (10-12, 1-5 SLC) has dropped seven of its last nine games, including two of three last weekend against Lamar. The Bears earned a midweek split at Missouri falling in the opener, 11-4, before claiming a 9-3 win on Wednesday.
Jonathan Houston leads UCA at the plate with a .371 average and is tied for the team lead in home runs (2) and RBI (15). Jonathan Davis (.366-2-9) is next in hitting for UCA followed by Ethan Harris (.271-0-10).
Right-hander Evan Cox (1-3, 7.06 ERA) will start in Friday's opener for the Bears followed by Ryan Angus (1-2, 3.21 ERA) on Saturday. The UCA starter for Sunday's contest is to be announced.