HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana, tied for first in the Southland Conference standings, heads out on the road this weekend for a three-game conference series against Lamar in Beaumont, Texas. Games are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
 
The Lions (25-20, 14-7 Southland) enter the series tied with Sam Houston State (24-18, 14-7 Southland) atop the conference standings. Central Arkansas (23-21, 13-8 Southland), Incarnate Word (30-14, 13-8 Southland) and Stephen F. Austin (21-24, 13-8 Southland) all sit one game back.
 
All three games can be heard in the Hammond area on the flagship station of the Southeastern Sports Radio Network, KSLU 90.9 FM, online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via both the Lions Gameday Experience and TuneIn Radio apps.
 
A free video stream for each game of the series, provided by Lamar, is available on Facebook Watch. Fans can also keep up with all the action through live statistics or by following @SLUathletics on Twitter. Web links to audio, video and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
Winners of their last six Southland series, the Lions enter the weekend fresh off a nonconference victory Wednesday over McNeese. Since March 17, Southeastern is 11 games over .500 (19-8).
 
The Lions are hitting .255 collectively, with 64 doubles, 14 triples, 33 home runs and 76 stolen bases. Southeastern's pitching staff has worked to a combined 4.27 ERA, striking out 381 batters in 396 innings. Opponents are hitting .248 off Lion pitching.
 
Cody Grosse (.303), Preston Faulkner (.291), Kyle Schimpf (.287), Trey Harrington (.277) and Nathan Pilutti (.274) key Southeastern's approach at the plate. Faulkner and Schimpf are tied for the team lead with seven home runs apiece. Schimpf's 41 RBIs rank third in the Southland. Grosse tops the conference with 23 stolen bases.
 
Corey Gaconi (6-2, 1.97), a senior right-hander from Metairie, Louisiana, draws the starting nod for the Lions in the opener, opposing Lamar senior left-hander Noah Sills (2-6, 3.97). Gaconi enters the opener tied for 10th in career wins (20) with Wade Miley (2006-08), Wayne Silva (1973-76) and Richard Simon (1970-73). He also ranks eighth in program history with 275 innings pitched in his career and 10th with 39 career starts.
 
Saturday, Southeastern senior right-hander Mason Knopp (6-1, 2.65) will oppose Cardinal senior southpaw Jason Blanchard (4-3, 2.66) in the middle game of the series. Neither team has announced a starting pitcher for Sunday's series finale.
 
Logan Berlof (.362), Avery George (.322), JC Correa (.315) and Cole Girouard (.303) are the Cardinals' top hitters. Anthony Quinn leads Lamar with eight home runs and Correa has produced a team-high 34 RBIs. George leads the squad with 12 stolen bases.
 
The Cardinals are hitting .276 collectively, with 53 doubles, 12 triples, 34 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Lamar's pitching staff has worked to a combined 4.98 ERA, striking out 300 batters in 387 innings. Opponents are hitting .258 off Cardinal pitching.
 
Lamar, which has dropped its last two Southland series, canceled its midweek game against Baylor ahead of inclement weather.
 
Following the series, Southeastern returns to Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field for its final four home games of the season. Tuesday's 6 p.m. game against South Alabama is our annual Study Break game, in addition to being National Teacher Appreciation Day and a Cane's Challenge contest.
 
The first 200 students in the gates at Tuesday's home game will receive some free goodies to ease the pain that is finals week. Teachers presenting a valid teaching ID at the box/ticket office will receive two free tickets to the game.
 
If Southeastern scores five or more runs Tuesday versus the Jaguars, fans can redeem their game ticket or student coupon at their local participating Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers to receive a free combo with the purchase of another of equal or greater value.
 
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. The ticket booth at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field opens exactly one hour before first pitch.

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.
 
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.
 
LIONS GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE APP
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.
 
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.
 
OPPONENT  |  LOCATION
Southeastern Louisiana (25-20, 14-7 Southland) at Lamar (15-29, 7-17 Southland)
Vincent-Beck Stadium (Beaumont, Texas)

DATES  |  TIMES  |  PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, May 3 – 6 p.m. (CT)
SLU – RHP Corey Gaconi (6-2, 1.97) vs.
LU – LHP Noah Sills  (2-6, 3.97)
 
Saturday, May 4 – 2 p.m. (CT)
SLU – RHP Mason Knopp (6-1, 2.65) vs.
LU – LHP Jason Blanchard (4-3, 2.66)
 
Sunday, May 5 – 1 p.m. (CT)
SLU – TBA (0-0, 0.00) vs.
LU – TBA (0-0, 0.00)

RADIO  |  INTERNET  |  MOBILE DEVICES
• KSLU, 90.9 FM
• Pregame show starts 15 minutes before first pitch
• www.LionSports.net – live audio, stats and video
• Lions Gameday Experience app, TuneIn Radio app