CONWAY, Ark. – Southeastern Louisiana wraps up Southland Conference play this weekend with a conference championship within reach at Central Arkansas.
 
Games between Southeastern (32-18, 19-8 Southland) and the Bears (30-18, 16-8 Southland) are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Bear Stadium.
 
The Lions sit in second place, 1.5 games behind Sam Houston State. Southeastern can earn at least a share of the Southland title if they sweep the series at Central Arkansas and Sam Houston loses at least three of its final six conference games.
 
Third-place Central Arkansas sits three games behind the Bearkats and 1.5 behind Southeastern. The Bears could be the outright champ if they win at least four of their final six Southland contests and Sam Houston loses at least four of its final six.
 
Sam Houston hosts Houston Baptist this weekend and wraps up the regular season at Incarnate Word. Central Arkansas wraps up the regular season next weekend at Nicholls. The Lions will host Houston in a non-conference series.
 
All three games at Central Arkansas can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM, and worldwide online or through either the Radio FX or TuneIn apps. Fans can also keep up with all the action through live statistics, streaming video or by following @SLUathletics on Twitter. Links to audio, video and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
Josh Green (6-4, 3.36), a senior right-hander from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, opposes Bear senior right-hander Tyler Gray (6-1, 3.05) in the series opener Friday at 6 p.m.

Saturday at 3 p.m., the Lions will send redshirt junior right-hander Carlisle Koestler (7-1, 2.51), who leads the Southland in wins, to the mound opposite Central Arkansas junior righty Tanner Wiley (4-2, 3.93).

Sunday at 1 p.m. Southeastern will counter Bear junior right-hander Cody Davenport (5-2, 4.01) in the series finale with junior right-hander Corey Gaconi (5-1, 3.82).

Cody Grosse (.325), Drew Avans (.310) and Mike Taylor (.299) pace Southeastern's offensive attack. Avans ranks second in the conference with eight home runs and Kyle Schimpf leads the team with 40 RBI. The Lions have five of the conference's top-eight base stealers in Avans (20), Grosse (18), Evan Pace (15), Bryce Steckler (14) and Brennan Breaud (13).
 
The Lions are hitting .248 collectively, with 73 doubles, 14 triples and 30 home runs. Their 122 stolen bases rank third nationally and are just three away from tying the program's single-season record. Southeastern's pitching staff has compiled a 3.49 ERA and 391 strikeouts through 449.1 innings of work, issuing the third-fewest walks per nine (2.46) in the nation. Opponents are hitting .244 off Lion pitching.
 
Southeastern has won seven of its last eight games, taking two of three at Sam Houston State this past weekend. The Bears have won seven straight.
 
Hunter Strong (.360) and Rigo Aguilar (.351), two of the top five hitters in the Southland, lead the Bears' offense. Keaton Presley and Josh Somdecerff are tied for the team lead with seven home runs, while Strong and Tyler Smith have each driven in 40 runs. Presley's 12 stolen bases are the most on the squad.
 
Central Arkansas is hitting .291 as a team, with 94 doubles, 11 triples, 29 home runs and 40 stolen bases. Bear pitchers have combined for a 4.00 ERA and 384 strikeouts in 434 innings of work. Opponents are hitting .258 off Central Arkansas pitching.
 
Southeastern will return home to wrap up the regular season with games against South Alabama (May 15) and No. 20-ranked Houston (May 17-18) at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
DIAMOND CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the baseball program are encouraged to join the Diamond Club. Lion baseball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners. S Club members also gain membership in the Diamond Club.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Diamond Club and S Club (baseball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern baseball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Lions Baseball, follow @Lions_Baseball on Twitter, @SLU_LionsBaseball on Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 

Southeastern Louisiana Lions (32-18, 19-8 Southland) at Central Arkansas Bears (30-18, 16-8 Southland)

DATES / TIMES / PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, May 11 – 6 p.m. (CT)
SLU – RHP Josh Green (6-4, 3.36) vs.
UCA – RHP Tyler Gray (6-1, 3.05)
 
Saturday, May 12 – 4 p.m. (CT)
SLU – RHP Carlisle Koestler (7-1, 2.51) vs.
UCA – RHP Tanner Wiley (4-2, 3.93)
 
Sunday, May 13 – 1 p.m. (CT)
SLU – RHP Corey Gaconi (5-1, 3.82) vs.
UCA – RHP Cody Davenport (5-2, 4.01)
 
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