CONWAY, Ark. – Southeastern Louisiana looks to repeat as Southland Conference regular season champions this weekend, wrapping up the its 2016 slate Thursday through Saturday at Central Arkansas.
Games in the conference series are scheduled for 6 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday, and 1 p.m. Saturday at Bear Stadium.
All three games against Central Arkansas (25-25, 13-14 Southland) can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM, online and through the TuneIn Radio app (search for KSLU). Fans can also keep up with the series through live statistics or by following SLUathletics on Twitter. Links for audio, video and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
The Lions' magic number for clinching the regular season title, and No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming Southland Conference Baseball Tournament, is two – any combination of Southeastern (36-15, 22-5 Southland) wins or Sam Houston State (34-19, 21-6 Southland) losses.
Five everyday players are hitting .300 or better for the Lions, including
Jameson Fisher (.449),
Drew Avans (.341),
Sam Roberson (.310),
Carson Crites (.309) and
Webb Bobo (.300). Fisher also leads the squad with 10 home runs and the conference with 59 RBIs. Southeastern is hitting .293 as a team, with 83 doubles, 19 triples, 43 home runs and 96 stolen bases.
Fisher, the Lions' first baseman, is the top offensive threat in the nation, leading college baseball in both batting average and on-base percentage (.578). The junior from Zachary, Louisiana, ranks fifth nationally in slugging percentage (.578).
Southeastern's pitching staff enters the series with a 2.80 ERA, the fifth-lowest in the nation, and has fanned 406 batters through 446.1 innings of work. Opponents are hitting .232 off Lion pitching.
Thursday the Lions will send senior right-hander
Pat Cashman (4-3, 4.67) to the mound in the series opener. Sophomore right-hander
Mac Sceroler (9-3, 2.53) draws the starting assignment for Southeastern in the second game of the series and senior left-hander
Domenick Carlini (6-1, 1.98) is slated to get the starting nod in Saturday's series finale.
The Bears' pitching staff enters the series with a 4.38 ERA, having fanned 333 batters in 436 innings of work. Opponents are hitting .278 off Central Arkansas pitching.
Chris Townsend (.341), Brandon Montalvo (.311), Tyler Langley (.308) and Logan Preston (.304) led the Bears at the plate. Central Arkansas is hitting .272 as a team, with 76 doubles, 17 triples, 18 home runs and 51 stolen bases.
The Bears rallied for a 7-6 win over rival Little Rock Tuesday evening.
Southeastern has clinched a spot in the 2016 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament, May 25-28, in Sugar Land, Texas. The Lions will play Wednesday at either 12 p.m., as the No 2 seed, or 4 p.m., as the No. 1 seed.
Tickets for the tournament may be purchased through the Sugar Land Skeeters website, www.SugarLandSkeeters.com, or by contacting the Skeeters office at (281) 240-4487.
Southeastern Louisiana Lions (36-15, 22-5 Southland) at Central Arkansas Bears (25-25, 13-14 Southland)
DATES / TIMES / PITCHING MATCHUP
Game 1: Thursday, May 19 – 6 p.m. (CT)
SLU – Senior RHP
Pat Cashman (4-3, 4.67) vs.
UCA – TBA (0-0, 0.00)
Game 2: Friday, May 20 – 6 p.m. (CT)
SLU – Sophomore RHP
Mac Sceroler (9-3, 2.53) vs.
UCA – TBA (0-0, 0.00)
Game 3: Saturday, May 21 – 1 p.m. (CT)
SLU – Senior LHP
Domenick Carlini (6-1, 1.98) vs.
UCA – TBA (0-0, 0.00)
STADIUM
Bear Stadium (Conway, Arkansas)
RADIO
• KSLU, 90.9 FM
• Pregame show starts 15 minutes prior to first pitch
INTERNET / MOBILE DEVICE
• www.LionSports.net – live audio, stats and video
• TuneIn Radio app
