HAMMOND, La. – Coming off a Southland Conference Tournament championship and an NCAA Regional appearance, Southeastern Louisiana opens its second season under head coach Matt Riser with a three-game series against Louisiana Tech, Friday through Sunday, at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

All general admission tickets for Friday's 6 p.m. season opener are $5. Saturday's game, which includes baseball-themed bingo, is slated for 2 p.m. against Tech (15-35 in 2014).

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. Kid's are welcome to join the Lions on the field for the national anthem Sunday and to run the bases after the game.

Friday and Sunday's 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 series through live statistics or by following SLUathletics on Twitter. Streaming video is available on LionVision, Southeastern's subscription-based video stream. Links for audio, video, stats and tickets are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.

The Lions posted a 38-25 overall record, 18-12 in Southland play, and return 16 letterwinners from its tournament championship squad.

"The biggest thing we learned from last year is you have to stay with it," Riser said. "We started out 9-8, one of the worst starts we've had in the last several years, then got it rolling a little bit. We hit another little patch of adversity with our longest losing streak since 2007. We knew there would be bumps and bruises early with so many new faces and it will be the same this year.

"We have injuries, and there will be bumps and bruises along the way, but you have to pull together and play your best baseball at the end of the year. If you're playing your best baseball at the end of the year it gives you a chance to win championships and move on deeper in the tournaments, not only from a conference standpoint, but from a Regional, Super Regional and Omaha standpoint. We feel like we've got the talent to do it, the biggest thing will be the mentality. We feel like this is a little more mature group, even if you look at it from a seniority standpoint where we only have four seniors, but the type of kids we have in the program right now do a pretty good job of taking care of their business on and off the field."

Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American Brett Hoffman is Southeastern's top returning bat. The senior third baseman posted a .312 batting average last season with 17 doubles and 41 RBIs.

Other top returners joining Hoffman in the lineup will be junior designated hitter Daniel Midyett and senior first baseman Kevin Carr. Midyett hit .296 with 31 RBIs and Carr hit .290 with 10 RBIs.

The Lions hit a conference-best .292 as a team last season with 16 home runs and swiped a Southland-leading 78 bases. Southeastern's pitching staff compiled a 2.92 ERA, 13 saves and fanned 414 batters in 555.2 innings of work.

Preseason All-Conference selection Tate Scioneaux draws the opening night nod for the Lions. The junior right-hander from Reserve, Louisiana, posted a 7-6 record and 3.02 ERA in 17 appearances, 16 starts, last season. Scioneaux struck out 77 batters while holding opponents to a .240 batting average in 110.1 innings pitched. He draws fellow righty Phil Maton (3-9, 4.98) for the Bulldogs.

Saturday the Lions will send junior right-hander Jake Johnson (8-4, 3.89), a transfer from Neosho County (Ks.) C.C, to the mound against Tech southpaw Tyler Clancy (3-2, 3.82 - JUCO). Junior left-hander Kyle Cedotal (3-3, 2.14) draws the starting nod for Southeastern in Sunday's series finale against Bulldog left-hander Phillip Diehl (8-2, 2.27 - JUCO).

After struggling to a last place finish in the Western Athletic Conference in 2013, Tech went 5-25 last year during its first season as a member of Conference USA.

Junior infielder Taylor Love (.320-2-17) is Tech's leading returning hitter. The Bulldogs hit .250 as a team last season with 19 home runs and 53 stolen bases. The pitching staff compiled a 4.85 ERA, fanning 247 batters in 443.2 innings of work.

Southeastern, which took two of three from the Bulldogs last season in Ruston, Louisiana, leads the all-time series, 23-17. The Bulldogs are making their first trip to Hammond since Feb. 18, 1999, which ended in a 5-4 Southeastern win.

The Lions travel to Jackson State for 6 p.m. contest Tuesday before returning home to host Tulane, Wednesday, at 6 p.m.

Season tickets are on sale through close of business Friday for Southeastern's 2015 baseball campaign. Upper level reserved chairback ($125) and grandstand bleacher ($100) options are available. All individual season ticket plans include a contribution to the Lion Athletics Association.

A family plan ($200), consisting of two adult and two youth general admission tickets, is also available.

For more information, contact the Southeastern Athletic 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 and 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Fridays. The ticket office is located in Room 107 of the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics.

Individual game tickets are also currently on sale and may be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets or through the ticket office.


Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (15-35) at Southeastern Louisiana Lions (38-25)

DATES / TIMES
Friday, Feb. 13 – 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 14 – 2 p.m. CT
Sunday, Feb. 15 – 1 p.m. CT

STADIUM
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field (Hammond, La.)

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

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

PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
LTU – Senior RHP Phil Maton (3-9, 4.98) vs.
SLU – Junior RHP Tate Scioneaux (7-6, 3.02)


Game 2
LTU – Junior LHP Tyler Clancy (3-2, 3.82 - JUCO) vs.
SLU – Junior RHP Jake Johnson (8-4, 3.89 - JUCO)


Game 3
LTU – Junior LHP Phillip Diehl (8-2, 2.27 - JUCO) vs.
SLU – Junior LHP Kyle Cedotal (3-3, 2.14)