HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana heads out on the road for the second-consecutive weekend in Southland Conference play, as the Lions travel to Northwestern State for a three-game series.

First pitch in the series opener is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday in Natchitoches, La. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and live statistics, courtesy Northwestern State, will be available at www.LionSports.net. Fans can also receive updates through Twitter by following @SLUathletics.

The Lions dropped a tough, 4-3 decision Wednesday at No. 3-ranked LSU. Southeastern scored a single run in the first inning to take the lead, but four third-inning runs held up for the Tigers.

Southeastern (28-14, 13-8 Southland) is tied for second place in the conference standings with UT-Arlington, four games behind first-place Sam Houston State.

Brock Hebert (.403), Jonathan Pace (.378) and Cody Gougler (.288) lead the Lions in hitting. Gougler leads the team with three home runs and is second in the conference with 34 RBIs.

Hebert continues to lead both the Lions and the Southland in hits (64), runs scored (45), doubles (17) and stolen bases (30). He needs just one stolen base to tie the school single-season stolen base record.

The Lions are hitting .272 as a team and the pitching staff has a 3.19 combined ERA.

Senior right-hander Joseph Koon (3-1, 5.67) will start the opener for Southeastern and will be opposed by junior left-hander Mason Melotakis (2-3, 3.26). Melotakis will be making his first start of the season and has served as the Demons closer, with seven saves, up to this point.

Will Watson (.316), Drew Helenihi (.301) and Nick Hinojos (.299) lead Northwestern State in hitting. Hinojos has a team-best four home runs and 27 RBIs. The Demons are hitting .255 as a team and have three players with at least 15 stolen bases.

Northwestern State (15-24, 10-11 Southland) has dropped seven of its last eight games overall and eight of its last nine conference games.

Junior left-hander Jordan Hymel (5-3, 3.05) heads to the mound for the Lions Saturday at 2 p.m. and will face sophomore right-hander Jacob Roark (2-4, 5.10). Junior southpaw Buck Bernard (2-0, 2.06) has the starting assignment in Sunday's 1 p.m. finale against Demons senior left-hander Colin Bear (3-5, 4.45).

Southeastern concludes its eight-game road trip against South Alabama at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Mobile, Ala.



Southeastern Louisiana Lions (28-14, 13-8) at Northwestern State Demons (15-24, 10-11)

DATES / TIMES
Friday, April 27 – 6:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, April 28 – 2 p.m. CT
Sunday, April 29 – 1 p.m. CT

STADIUM
Brown-Stroud Field (1,200) in Natchitoches, La.

RADIO
• KSLU, 90.9 FM
• Pregame show starts 15 minutes prior to first pitch

INTERNET
www.LionSports.net – live audio and stats

SERIES RECORD
• Northwestern State leads 39-33 since 1981
• In Natchitoches, Northwestern State leads 18-12 since 1981
• In the last meeting Northwestern State won, 13-3 (May 20, 2011)

PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
SLU –  Senior RHP Joseph Koon (3-1, 5.67)
NWLA – Junior LHP Mason Melotakis (2-3, 3.26)

Game 2
SLU –  Junior LHP Jordan Hymel (5-3, 3.05)
NWLA –  Sophomore RHP Jacob Roark (2-4, 5.10)

Game 3
SLU –  Junior LHP Buck Bernard (2-0, 2.06)
NWLA – Senior LHP Colin Bear (3-5, 4.45)