HUNTSVILLE, Texas – With first place in the Southland Conference hanging in the balance, Southeastern Louisiana and Sam Houston State meet in a three-game series this weekend at Don Sanders Stadium.
 
Games between Southeastern (30-17, 17-7 Southland) and the Bearkats (32-13, 18-3 Southland) are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. The Lions sit in second place, 2.5 games behind Sam Houston.
 
All three games 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 or by following @SLUathletics on Twitter. Originally slated for ESPN+, there will be no streaming video for any of the three matchups. Links to audio and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
Josh Green (6-3, 3.10), a senior right-hander from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, opposes Bearkat sophomore right-hander Nick Mikolajchak (6-4, 3.86) in the series opener Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday at 3 p.m., the Lions will send redshirt junior right-hander Carlisle Koestler (7-1, 2.20), who leads the Southland in wins and ERA, to the mound opposite Sam Houston junior southpaw Seth Ballew (5-1, 3.21).

Sunday at 1 p.m. Southeastern will counter Bearkat sophomore right-hander Hayden Wesneski (4-2, 3.47) in the series finale with junior right-hander Corey Gaconi (4-1, 4.45).

Cody Grosse (.326) and Drew Avans (.319) pace Southeastern's offensive attack. Avans ranks second in the conference with eight home runs and Kyle Schimpf's 39 RBI are fourth. Grosse leads the Southland with 43 runs scored, while the Lions have four of the conference's top-five base stealers in Avans (19), Grosse (16), Evan Pace (14) and Bryce Steckler (13).
 
The Lions are hitting .246 collectively, with 67 doubles, 13 triples and 28 home runs. Their 112 stolen bases rank third nationally. Southeastern's pitching staff, which has compiled a 3.52 ERA, has struck out 369 batters through 421.1 innings of work and issued the third-fewest walks per nine (2.52) in the nation. Opponents are hitting .246 off Lion pitching.
 
Southeastern has won five straight, all in conference, while the Bearkats have won six consecutive games.
 
Clayton Harp (.354), Blake Chisholm (.333), Hunter Hearn (.316) and Andrew Fregia (.304) are Sam Houston's top hitters. Fregia leads the team with eight home runs and 37 RBI. Chisholm and Hearn have each hit seven homers. Harp is the Bearkats' top base-stealing threat with 12 bags.
 
As a team, Sam Houston is hitting .287with 67 doubles, 12 triples, 41 home runs and 62 stolen bases. Bearkat pitchers have combined for 383 strikeouts and a 3.73 ERA in 405 innings while holding opponents to a .243 batting average.
 
Southeastern wraps up this road trip and Southland Conference play with a three-game series at Central Arkansas, May 11-13, in Conway, Arkansas. The Lions will return home to wrap up the season with games against South Alabama (May 15) and No. 19-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 (30-17, 17-7 Southland) at Sam Houston State (32-13, 18-3 Southland)

DATES / TIMES / PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, May 4 – 6:30 p.m. (CT)
SLU – RHP Josh Green (6-3, 3.10) vs.
SHSU – RHP Nick Mikolajchak (6-4, 3.86)
 
Saturday, May 5 – 3 p.m. (CT)
SLU – RHP Carlisle Koestler (7-1, 2.20) vs.
SHSU – LHP Seth Ballew (5-1, 3.21)
 
Sunday, May 6 – 1 p.m. (CT)
SLU – RHP Corey Gaconi (4-1, 4.45) vs.
SHSU – RHP Hayden Wesneski (4-2, 3.47)
 
STADIUM
Don Sanders Stadium (Huntsville, Texas)

RADIO
• KSLU, 90.9 FM
• Pregame show starts 15 minutes prior to first pitch
 
INTERNET / MOBILE DEVICE
• www.LionSports.net – live audio and stats
• TuneIn Radio app