HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team opens its final homestand of the season beginning Friday when it plays host to Southland Conference rival Stephen F. Austin in a three-game series at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

First pitch for Friday's opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. The series resumes on Saturday at 2 p.m. before concluding Sunday at 1. All three games can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. Tickets are available be calling the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or on-line at www.LionSports.net.

Looking to clinch its fourth consecutive berth to the Southland Conference Tournament that begins May 25, Southeastern (32-18, 15-12 SLC) sits in fourth-place in the league standings – one game behind Sam Houston State and two behind second-place SFA (30-18, 17-10 SLC). The Lions close out the regular-season beginning Thursday at Northwestern State.

Southeastern has won eight of its last 12 games entering the SFA series, including a 15-4 win over Nicholls on Sunday in the conclusion of a three-game SLC series.

Jonathan Pace leads Southeastern at the plate with a .354 average with Brock Hebert (.341-2-28) following. Justin Boudreaux (.333-8-43), Jeff Harkensee (.327-10-52), Cass Hargis (.327-0-24), Cody Gougler (.306-3-25) and Josh Cryer (.274-2-37) are next in hitting for the Lions, who average .293 at the plate while hitting 29 home runs and scoring 328 runs in 50 games.

Senior Brandon Efferson (8-3, 3.46 ERA) will start in Friday's contest for Southeastern with senior Tyler Watkins (7-3, 3.13 ERA) slated to pitch on Saturday. The Lions will send junior right-hander Josh Janway (5-2, 3.02 ERA) to the mound in Sunday's finale.

SFA, which sits three games behind league leader Texas State in the standings, looks to snap a five-game losing streak that included a three-game sweep against SHSU last weekend and an 8-7 loss to Dallas Baptist on Tuesday.

Newcomer Bryson Myles leads a potent SFA offensive attack with a .414 average and seven home runs. The junior has driven in 32 runs on the season and has stolen 42 bases – the most in the nation in 2011.

Garrett Smith (.337-0-37), Jarid Scarafiotti (.329-4-35) and Darren Crabtree (.322-4-40) are the other top hitters for the Lumberjacks, who are hitting .304 as a team with 29 home runs and 321 runs scored in 48 games.

Right-hander Jared West (6-3, 2.98 ERA) will start in Friday's opener for SFA before southpaw Tyler Herriage (2-5, 5.55 ERA) will pitch on Saturday. Right-hander Zack Taylor (4-2, 2.74 ERA) is slated to pitch in Sunday's contest.