HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana returns home following a season-long eight-game trip to host Stephen F. Austin in a three-game Southland Conference series. First pitch for the series opener is schedule for 6 p.m. Friday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and live statistics will be available at www.LionSports.net. Fans can also keep up with the game on Twitter by following @SLUathletics.

Cowbells will be handed out prior to Friday's game and fans will have a chance to win free Raising Cane's at all three games of the series with the Cane's Challenge.

Southeastern (31-15, 15-9 Southland) is second in the conference standings, four games behind first-place Sam Houston State.

The Lions have won their last three games, taking the final two games of a conference series at Northwestern State and defeating South Alabama last Tuesday in Mobile, Ala.

Brock Hebert (.400), Jonathan Pace (.351) and Cody Gougler (.287) lead Southeastern in hitting. Gougler leads the team with three home runs and 36 RBIs. Hebert is third nationally with 33 stolen bases.

The Lions are hitting .269 as a team and the pitching staff has compiled a 3.18 team ERA.

Senior right-hander Joseph Koon (3-2, 6.03) will start on the mound for Southeastern in the opener. He will be opposed by right-hander Chase Greening (4-4, 4.42).

Hunter Dozier (.343), Chris Hernandez (.324) and Freddy Villalobos (.303) lead the Lumberjacks in hitting. Dozier leads the team, and is second in the conference, with eight home runs. He has driven in a team-best 28 runs. SFA is hitting .258 as a team and the pitching staff has compiled a 3.88 team ERA.

Last weekend, the Lumberjacks took the final two games of a conference series from Texas-Arlington.

Freshman right-hander Andro Cutura (3-1, 3.38) is slated to start for the Lions Saturday (2 p.m.), in game two of the series, against right-hander Cameron Gann (5-2, 2.03). Southeastern will send junior left-hander Buck Bernard (2-0, 1.82) to the mound Sunday at 1 p.m. to face right-hander Colton Eubanks (4-5, 3.71).

Saturday is Alumni Day and the Lions will host a reunion before the game. All returning lettermen will be honored at the game, with special recognition given to the 1978 squad.
Gulf South Conference co-champions, the 1978 team was the last baseball squad to win a title until 1992. Key members of the 1978 team included Steve Grigas, who led the nation in doubles (21), and Kenny Lehrmann, Southeastern's all-time wins leader. Lehrman, Chris Belmont and Russ Marsh set or tied what were then Lion single-season records.

Carl Torbush, head coach of the 1978 squad and former head football coach at North Carolina, is slated to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Saturday's game. Fans can also play Baseball Bingo at the ballpark.

Sunday is Take A Kid To The Game Day, with all children 12 and under admitted free. It is also Church Day and Sunday at the Park presented by Academy Sports and Outdoors.



Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (18-26, 11-13 SLC) at Southeastern Louisiana Lions (31-15, 15-9 SLC)

DATES / TIMES
Friday, May 4 – 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, May 5 – 2 p.m. CT
Sunday, May 6 – 1 p.m. CT

STADIUM
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field in Hammond, 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
• Southeastern leads 19-13 since 1981
• In Hammond, Southeastern leads 7-6 since 1981
• In the last meeting, SFA won 8-5 (May 15, 2011)

PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
SFA – Junior RHP Chase Greening (4-4, 4.42) vs.
SLU – Senior RHP Joseph Koon (3-2, 6.03)

Game 2
SFA – Freshman RHP Cameron Gann (5-2, 2.03) vs.
SLU – Freshman RHP Andro Cutura (5-1, 2.81)

Game 3
SFA – Senior RHP Colton Eubanks (4-5, 3.71) vs.
SLU – Junior LHP Buck Bernard (2-0, 1.82)