HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team resumes its 2013 season Friday when it  hosts Texas Southern in the opener of a three-game series at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.

All general admission tickets to Friday's game against Texas Southern (7-3) are $5 as part of the $5 Fridays promotion. At the concession stand, a select food item will also be available paired with a non-alcoholic beverage for $5. Baseball-themed bingo is available at Saturday's 2 p.m. game with the first 20 fans to score five-in-a-row winning a prize.

Fans will have a chance Friday and Sunday to enjoy the Raising Cane's Challenge. If the Lions score five or more runs in either game, fans presenting their ticket stub (or student coupon), and purchasing a combo at a participating Raising Cane's, will receive a free combo of equal or lesser value (through the following day).

Friday's and Sunday's games can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), on the internet through the Southeastern athletics website as well as on the KSLU iPhone and TuneIn Radio apps. Live stats, as well as a live video stream through LionVision, will be available for all three games of the series. Links to audio, stats and video are located on the baseball schedule page at  www.LionSports.net.

Southeastern (5-2) took  a pair of games from BYU this past weekend, along with dropping a decision at LSU. With Saturday's win over BYU, coach Jay Artigues moved into seventh place, surpassing current Louisiana-Lafayette coach Tony Robichaux, on the Southland Conference's all-time wins list (245). Robichaux earned his 244 wins at McNeese State.

The Lions (.260 team batting average) are led in hitting by Harry Slade (.500), Ben Hernandez (.364) and Jesse Buratt (.304). Sam Roberson owns Southeastern's lone home run while four players, including Slade and Hernandez, have four RBIs apiece. Slade leads the team with five stolen bases.

Southeastern junior right-hander Sean Kennel (0-0, 1.35) earns the nod on the mound for the second-consecutive Friday. He allowed one run in 7.1 innings pitched against BYU the last time out, fanning five while walking just one batter. He'll be opposed by sophomore right-hander Felix Gomez (1-0, 1.35) for Texas Southern.

Freshman right-hander Tate Scioneaux (2-0, 2.64) will throw Saturday against Tiger sophomore righty Robert Pearson (1-1, 1.88).  Neither team has announced a starting pitcher for Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale.

Texas Southern is hitting .278 as a team. Chris Deleon (.361), Adrian Lopez (.360) and Corbin Smith (.357) are the Tigers' leading hitters. Tyler Flanagan leads the team with a pair of home runs while Marquis Curry's 12 RBIs are tops on the team. Smith leads the Tigers with six stolen bases.

After taking two of three games against conference foes at the MLB/Astros Urban Invitational this past weekend, Texas Southern swept a pair of mid-week contests from head coach Michael Robertson's alma mater, Huston-Tillotson, by scores of 20-4 and 7-1.

The series finale is Academy Family Sunday in the Park. Roomie's Kid Zone, sponsored by Academy Sports and Outdoors, will be open down the left-field line featuring a bounce house and other family-friendly activities. Kid's are welcome to join the Lions on the field for the national anthem Sunday and to run the bases after the game. The baseball team will also be signing autographs after Sunday's game.


Southeastern Louisiana Lions (5-2) vs. Texas Southern Tigers (7-3)

DATES / TIMES
Friday, March 1 – 6 p.m. CT
Friday, March 2 – 2 p.m. CT
Saturday, March 3 – 1 p.m. CT

STADIUM
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field

RADIO
• KSLU, 90.9 FM (Friday & Sunday only)
• Pregame show starts 15 minutes prior to first pitch

INTERNET/SMARTPHONE
• www.LionSports.net – live audio (Friday & Sunday only) and stats
• KSLU iPhone app, TuneIn Radio app (Friday & Sunday only)

SERIES RECORD
• Southeastern leads the series 5-1 since 1981
• In the last meeting, Texas Southern won 6-1 in 12 innings (March 7, 2010)

PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
TSU – Sophomore RHP Felix Gomez (1-0, 1.35) vs.
SLU – Junior RHP Sean Kennel (0-0, 1.35)

Game 2
TSU – Sophomore RHP Robert Pearson (1-1, 1.88) vs.
SLU – Freshman RHP Tate Scioneaux (2-0, 2.64)

Game 3
TSU – TBA vs.
SLU – TBA