HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana baseball team kicks off the 2012 season Friday with the first game in a three-game series against Indiana State.

First pitch for all three games in the weekend series are scheduled for 1 p.m. at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. Friday's game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. Live statistics will also be available.

The Lions must replace several players off last season's team (35-22). On offense, the Lions must replace three of the top six players in school history in career hits and career RBI as well as three of the top 10 in career runs scored. On the mound, the Lions must replace the production of Brandon Efferson who finished his career with the most innings pitched in school history (303.2), the second most wins (24) and seventh highest strikeout total (235)

“We lost a lot of key guys, guys that were here for three and four years,” head coach Jay Artigues said.

Replacing the likes of Cass Hargis, Justin Boudreaux and Jeff Harkensee in the lineup won't be an easy chore for the Lions. The task will fall on the shoulders of several newcomers, including Ben Hernandez.

Hernandez, a Zachary, La. native, takes over for the departed Justin Boudreaux at shortstop. Boudreaux signed a professional contract with the Los Angles Dodgers last summer after being drafted in the 14th round of the 2011 Major League Draft.

Returning players include preseason All-Southland selection Brock Hebert and Jonathan Pace, the Lions two leading hitters in 2011, and Stopper of the Year nominee Stefan Lopez.

Southeastern will face an Indiana State team returning all nine position starters from a team that went 29-28 in 2011. The Sycamores hit .272 as team with 28 home runs and scored 317 runs.

Facing the Indiana State bats for the Lions in the season opener will be senior right-hander Joseph Koon.

“Joseph had a great offseason,” Artigues said. “He went out this summer and developed the cutter he needed to get the right-handers off of him. He's throwing four pitches for strikes.”

Behind Koon Southeastern has developed a strong, deep bullpen.

“We're really strong in the bullpen and our starters have pitched well leading up to the season,” Artigues said. “We're really excited because we should be able to pitch and play defense really well.”