HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana baseball program is attracting national attention in several Southland Conference previews published recently.

Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game (www.perfectgame.org) picked the Lions to finish second in the Southland (Conference Preview - subscription required), behind defending regular-season champion Sam Houston State. He also picked a preseason All-Conference squad and highlighted some of the top pro prospects.

"Former Lions head coach Jay Artigues is now the athletic director for the Lions, but the program remains in good hands with new coach Matt Riser, previously an assistant at Southeastern, leading the charge," Rogers writes. "Riser inherits quite a talented weekend rotation with veteran right-hander Andro Cutura and rising righty Kyle Keller leading the charge.

"Keller shined at the Texas Collegiate League last summer and should make a huge impact this season. He sits 90-95 with his fastball on a good downhill angle. Meanwhile, his command has greatly improved and his slider serves as a plus offering at times, sitting low-80s. Keller's changeup also continues to develop, while he has a very easy delivery. Also keep an eye on senior Dylan Hills, who has an 86-90 fastball, along with a plus low-to-mid 80s cutter.

"Offensively, keep an eye on sophomore infielder Jameson Fisher, who has a good lefthanded swing and continues to develop some pop. Meanwhile, keep an eye on freshman Kennon Menard, who has good arm strength and good speed with a 6.6 60-yard-dash. He has plenty of upside and room to grow."

Junior right-hander Andro Cutura was one of four pitchers Rogers named to Perfect Game's All-Conference team. He also named Cutura the second-best pro prospect for the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft in the Southland. Keller, also a junior right-hander, came in at No. 5 on the 2014 prospect list while sophomore Jameson Fisher was tabbed the conference's top pro prospect for the 2015 draft.

Aaron Fitt of "Baseball America" listed the conference's top pro prospects for the next two drafts and also picked the Bearkats as the team to beat. His league roundup, however, is heavily focused on Southeastern.

"[Riser] believes this is Southeastern's most talented team in his seven years there, highlighted by a deep, experienced pitching staff," Fitt writes. "Friday starter Andro Cutura is coming off a strong summer in the Cape Cod League, and his 89-94 sinker, 80-84 cutter and quality change should allow him to thrive atop the rotation. No. 2 starter Tate Scioneaux is a competitor with good life on his 88-91 fastball, giving the Lions a nice one-two pitching punch."

Fitt considers Cutura the fifth-best and junior catcher Sam Roberson the 10th-best pro prospects the Southland has in the class of 2014. He lists Fisher second and Scioneaux third for 2015.

College Sports Madness (www.collegesportsmadness.com) named a trio of Lions to its preseason All-Conference squad. The website placed Scioneaux (P) on its Southland first team while listing Jesse Buratt (IF) and Jameson Fisher (UTIL) on the second team.

The Lions open the 2014 season, Feb. 14-16, with a three-game series at Louisiana Tech before returning home to face preseason No. 3-ranked LSU, Feb. 19, at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

Season tickets are on sale for the 2014 baseball season. Box seats ($250), reserved chairback ($100), and upper grandstand ($60) options are available. Box seats grant membership in the Lion Athletic Association ($125 level). A family plan ($200), consisting of two adult and two youth general admission tickets, is also available.

For more information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or 1-866-LION-TIX. Ticket office hours are 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Fridays, and is located in Room 107 of the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics.