HAMMOND, La. – Two of the top college baseball teams in the state of Louisiana square off opening weekend at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field as Southeastern Louisiana hosts Louisiana Tech in a three-game, nonconference series.
 
Games between Southeastern (37-22 in 2018) and the Bulldogs (39-20 in 2018) are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
 
The series finale is also the first Local Hero Appreciation Day of the season. Every Sunday home game throughout the 2019 season, the Lions give thanks to our first responders, service members and military personnel with a discounted ticket available at the ticket booth (must have a valid service ID).
 
Both Friday and Sunday's 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 streaming video ($), live statistics or by following @SLUathletics on Twitter.
 
The new Lions Gameday Experience app puts audio, stats, video, social media and more in the hands of fans. Those in attendance can also check in to earn reward points redeemable for Southeastern-related prizes. Available for both Android and iOS devices, it can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
 
Web links to audio, video, stats, promotions and tickets are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
Picked to finish second in the Southland Conference this season, the Lions return approximately 50 percent of their offensive production from a season ago. Southeastern hit .251 as a team last season, knocked 40 home runs and ranked third nationally with program-record 136 stolen bases.
 
Key hitters returning include seniors Brennan Breaud (.230), preseason All-Conference selection Cody Grosse (.314), Evan Pace (.229) and Kyle Schimpf (.249). A native of Covington, Louisiana, Schimpf led the Lions with 45 RBI.
 
Preseason All-Southland selection Corey Gaconi (7-1, 3.15), a senior from Metairie, Louisiana, draws the nod opening night and is slated to oppose senior right-hander Matt Miller (5-5, 4.20) for the Bulldogs.
 
Saturday at 2 p.m., the Lions will send sophomore right-hander Will Warren (1-1, 3.04) to the mound opposite Tech redshirt-senior southpaw Logan Robbins (7-1, 4.66).

Sunday at 1 p.m. Southeastern will counter Bulldog senior left-hander Logan Bailey (8-1, 2.24) in the series finale with redshirt-senior righty Carlisle Koestler (7-1, 2.68). Both pitchers were preseason All-Conference selections.
 
Picked to finish second in Conference USA, the Bulldogs are led by outfielder Parker Bates (.310) and infielder Hunter Wells (.357). Both were preseason All-CUSA selections. Tech hit .282 as a team last season, knocking 50 home runs and swiping 73 bases.
 
Under head coach Matt Riser, Southeastern is 5-1 against the Bulldogs. The last time the programs faced each other, the Lions swept a three-game series from Tech in Hammond to open the 2015 season.
 
Following the weekend series, Southeastern travels to preseason No. 1-ranked LSU for a 6;30 p.m. contest Tuesday at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of the 2018 fall semester. The policy mirrors safety precautions taken upon entrance to professional and collegiate sporting venues throughout the country. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/Clear.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Single-game tickets can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets or by contacting the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Fridays.

General Admission tickets for Lion home games are $9 for adults and $6 for children (ages 3-12). Southeastern students are admitted free with a valid university ID card.
 
The ticket booth at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field opens exactly one hour before first pitch.

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.
 
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 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Lions Baseball, follow @LionUpBaseball or @MattRiser17 on Twitter,  @LionUpBaseball on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
LOUISIANA TECH (39-20) AT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (37-22)
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field (Hammond, Louisiana)

DATES / TIMES / PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, Feb. 15 – 7 p.m. (CT)
LT – RHP Matt Miller (5-5, 4.20) vs.
SLU – RHP Corey Gaconi (7-1, 3.15)
 
Saturday, Feb. 16 – 2 p.m. (CT)
LT – LHP Logan Robbins (7-1, 4.66) vs.
SLU – RHP Will Warren (1-1, 3.04)
 
Sunday, Feb. 17 – 1 p.m. (CT)
LT – LHP Logan Bailey (8-1, 2.24) vs.
SLU – RHP Carlisle Koestler (7-1, 2.68)
 
RADIO
• KSLU, 90.9 FM (Friday and Sunday only)
• Pregame show starts 15 minutes before first pitch
 
INTERNET / MOBILE DEVICE
• www.LionSports.net – live audio, stats and video
• Lions Gameday Experience app, Radio FX app, TuneIn Radio app