HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana opens Southland Conference baseball action this weekend, hosting Lamar in a three-game series at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. Game times for Southeastern's (9-7) weekend series with the Cardinals (12-6) are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

The series opener is a $5 Friday at the ballpark. All general admission tickets are $5 and a concession stand special, consisting of fried fish, potato chips and a bottle of water, will also be available for $5 during the game. Baseball-themed bingo is available at Saturday's game.

Sunday's 1 p.m. 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 (weather pending). Kid's are welcome to join the Lions on the field for the national anthem Sunday and to run the bases after the game.

Fans will also have a chance Sunday to enjoy the Raising Cane's Challenge. If the Lions score five or more runs in the 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).

All three games can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM, online and either the KSLU or TuneIn Radio smartphone apps. Fans can keep up with the entire series through live statistics or by following SLUathletics on Twitter. Streaming video is available on LionVision, Southeastern's subscription-based video stream. Links for tickets, audio, stats and video are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.

Southeastern has dropped its last two games, both to No. 12-ranked Ole Miss, after winning a weekend series against Sacred Heart to open the current eight-game homestand.

Jameson Fisher (.417), Andrew Godbold (.351), Jacob Williams (.328) and Brett Hoffman (.300) lead Southeastern at the plate. Hoffman leads the team with eight doubles and 17 RBIs, while Fisher has driven in 14 and Godbold has one home run to go with 12 RBIs.

The Lions are hitting .278 as team and have been successful on 36-of-48 stolen base attempts, among the most in the nation. Southeastern's pitching staff has compiled a 2.71 ERA, fanning 123 batters in 143 innings pitched.

Junior right-hander Andro Cutura (2-1, 1.55) earns the series opening start for the Lions, drawing junior lefty Chase Angelle (1-2, 3.00) for the Cardinals. Cutura entered the week sixth nationally with 35 strikeouts. Saturday the Lions will send sophomore right-hander Tate Scioneaux (3-0, 1.71) to the mound against Lamar right-hander Will Hibbs (2-0, 1.71).

Cutura and Scioneaux are two of just 23 pitchers at the Division I level to have turned in quality starts in each of their first four outings this season. Oregon State and UNLV are the only other schools to have multiple pitchers toss at least six innings, allowing three or fewer earned runs, in three-consecutive starts.

Junior right-hander Kyle Keller (1-0, 1.57) draws the starting nod for Southeastern in Sunday's series finale opposite Cardinal freshman righty Brett Janak (3-0, 0.69).

Lamar is coming off an 18-6, run-rule victory over Prairie View A&M this past Wednesday in Beaumont, Texas. The Cardinals have won four straight since dropping back-to-back games at Baylor, Lamar's only road game thus far, and against Harvard.

Kevin Santana (.382), Jacoby Middleton (.338), Wayne Stanley (.308) and Jude Vidrine (.304) lead the Cardinals at the plate. Santana has 10 doubles, while Middleton and Stanley have hit Lamar's only home runs. Middleton and Vidrine have each produced a team-high 12 RBIs.

Advance tickets for all home baseball games are available through www.LionSports.net or by contacting 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.


Lamar Cardinals (12-6) at Southeastern Louisiana Lions (9-7)

DATES / TIMES
Friday, March 14 – 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, March 15 – 2 p.m. CT
Sunday, March 16 – 1 p.m. CT

STADIUM
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field (Hammond, 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

PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
LU – Junior LHP Chase Angelle (1-2, 3.00) vs.
SLU – Junior RHP Andro Cutura (2-1, 1.55)

Game 2
LU – Sophomore RHP Will Hibbs (2-0, 1.71) vs.
SLU – Sophomore RHP Tate Scioneaux (3-0, 1.71)

Game 3
LU – Freshman RHP Brett Janak (3-0, 0.69) vs.
SLU – Junior RHP Kyle Keller (1-0, 1.57)