HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team hosts  Nicholls State in the opener of a three-game, split Southland Conference series Thursday at 6 p.m.

Friday, Southeastern (18-8, 3-0 Southland) and Nicholls (14-12, 1-2 Southland) will travel to Thibodaux, La., where the Colonels will host the middle game of the series. The series finale returns to Southeastern's campus Saturday at 1 p.m.

Fans will have a chance Thursday and Saturday 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).

Baseball-themed bingo is also available at Saturday's game with the first 20 fans to score five-in-a-row winning a prize.

All three 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. Links to audio, stats and video are located on the baseball schedule page at  www.LionSports.net.

After sweeping Northwestern State to open conference play this past weekend, Southeastern dropped a 9-6 decision to Louisiana-Lafayette. The Lions have won seven of their last nine games overall.

Senior right fielder Harry Slade continues to lead Southeastern at the plate with a .354 average. Freshman catcher Jameson Fisher, junior third baseman Jesse Buratt and Slade  lead the club with six doubles. Five players, including Aaron Haag, Fisher, Tanner Rainey, Sam Roberson and Slade have each hit one home run. Slade leads the team with 23 runs batted in, second-best in the Southland, and  eight stolen bases.

Southeastern will send junior right-hander Sean Kennel (4-0, 1.74), the Southland's ERA leader, to the hill against Colonel right-hander Mike Suk (1-2, 3.10) in the opener. Friday, Lion freshman right-hander Tate Scioneaux (3-0, 3.18) draws senior right-hander Kory Delange (4-2, 2.97). Senior left-hander Jordan Hymel (3-2, 3.03) draws the starting nod for Southeastern in the Saturday finale and will be opposed by junior southpaw Taylor Byrd (4-1, 2.92).

The Colonels dropped two-of-three conference games this past weekend to Stephen F. Austin, but bounced back Tuesday for a mid-week win over future conference-foe New Orleans.

Tyler Duplantis and Keith Cormier lead Nicholls at the plate with identical .329 averages. Philip Lyons has hit a team-best nine doubles. Seth Stevens leads the Colonels with a pair of home runs and Cody Dufrene has driven in a team-high 20 runs. Matt Richard (11) and Lyons (10) are second and third in the Southland, respectively, in stolen bases.


Southeastern Louisiana Lions (18-8) vs. Nicholls State Colonels (14-12)

DATES / TIMES
• Thursday, March 28 – 6 p.m. CT in Hammond, La.
• Friday, March 29 – 6:30 p.m. CT in Thibodaux, La.
• Saturday, March 30 – 2 p.m. CT in Hammond, La.

STADIUMS
• Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field (Hammond, La.)
• Ray E. Didier Field (Thibodaux, La.)

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

INTERNET/SMARTPHONE
• www.LionSports.net – live audio and stats
• KSLU iPhone app, TuneIn Radio app

SERIES RECORD
• Nicholls State leads the series 68-46 since 1981
• In the last meeting, Southeastern won 5-3 (March 11, 2012)

PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
NICH – Senior RHP Mike Suk (1-2, 3.10) vs.
SLU – Junior RHP Sean Kennel (4-0, 1.74)

Game 2
SLU – Freshman RHP Tate Scioneaux (3-0, 3.18) vs.
NICH – Senior RHP Kory Delange (4-2, 2.97)

Game 3
NICH – Junior LHP Taylor Byrd (4-1, 2.92) vs.
SLU – Senior LHP Jordan Hymel (3-2, 3.03)