HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team will officially open its 2020 schedule this week, hosting the three-day, five-team Lion Classic beginning Friday at North Oak Park.
 
Southeastern opens the tournament with a pair of games on Friday, facing Buffalo at 4 p.m. and Alabama State at 6 p.m. On Saturday, SLU again opens the day's action with a 4 p.m. contest versus Buffalo, before facing UT Martin at 6 p.m. The Lady Lions close the tournament on Sunday, facing Grambling at 2 p.m.
 
Live stats for all tournament games will be available at www.LionSports.net/sidearmstats/softball. The Southeastern Sports Network will offer a free video stream of all of Southeastern's games during the tournament. Tune in online at www.LionSports.net or the Lions Game Day Experience app for Android or iOS devices. Fans can also watch on Southeastern's YouTube channel (/SLUathletics) with any mobile, tablet or smart TV device (e.g., Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV and Roku).
 
Southeastern's top returners from last year's 34-23 team on offense are preseason All-Southland performers Ella Manzer (.341, 13 2B, 3 HR, 31 RBI in 2020) and Madisen Blackford (.315, 11 2B, 7 HR, 34 RBI). Juniors Manzer and Blackford are two of four returning positional starters for SLU, along with Lindsey Rizzo (.322, 27 SB) and Ali McCoy (.287, 10 2B).
 
Manzer and Blackford's fellow preseason all-conference member Alley McDonald (13-7, 2.34 ERA, 1 save) is the senior leader of a SLU pitching staff that also returns Karlee Kraft (5-1, 1.75 ERA), Tanner Wright (6-5, 2.81 ERA), Sophie Hannabas (7-7, 3.22 ERA, 1 save) and Shelby Sitzman (1-0, 2.86 ERA). Newcomers Heather Zumo, MC Comeaux and Anna Westberry join to give SLU its most pitching options in recent memory.
 
Buffalo comes to Hammond after finishing 10-32-1 a season ago. Anna Aguon (.381, 5 HR) and Alexis Matheney (7 HR) are the top returning hitters for a UB squad that hit .242 a season ago. The Bulls will be replacing its entire pitching staff from a season ago.
 
Alabama State (24-25 in 2019) returns top hitter Alexis Sydnor (.378) and ace pitcher Vanessa Bradford (8-10, 4.83 ERA) from last season's squad.
 
UT Martin also returns its top hitter from 2019, as Paige Clark led the Skyhawks with a .383 batting average. Erin Gallagher (7-4, 2.58 ERA, 2 saves) and Hannah Ridolfi (8-11, 3.73 ERA, 1 save) are UTM's most experienced arms.
 
Grambling was 16-23 a season ago. The Lady Tigers are led offensively by Rikkelle Miller (.423, 8 HR, 41 RBI) and in the circle by D'Maria Matthews (9-10, 1.76 ERA).
 
Up Next
Southeastern will close out a six-game home stand to open the season next Wednesday, hosting UAB at 6 p.m. at North Oak Park. The Southeastern Sports Network will offer a free video stream of Wednesday's contest. Tune in online at www.LionSports.net or the Lions Game Day Experience app for Android or iOS devices. Fans can also watch on Southeastern's YouTube channel (/SLUathletics) with any mobile, tablet or smart TV device (e.g., Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV and Roku).
 
The first 75 fans through the gates will receive a "Lion Up or Leave" rally towel to wave when the Lady Lions hit a home run throughout the season.  Celebrate Valentine's Day early at North Oak Park with a couple's ticket as the Lady Lions host the Blazers. Two general admission tickets will be available for $8 and reserved chair backs will be available for $15.

Wednesday is a Cane's Challenge at North Oak Park. If Southeastern scores three or more runs versus UAB, 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.
 
2020 Lion Classic – February 7-9, 2020 – North Oak Park
 
Friday, February 7
12 p.m. – UT Martin vs. Buffalo
2 p.m. – UT Martin vs. Alabama State
4 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. Buffalo (Southeastern Sports Network)
6 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. Alabama State (Southeastern Sports Network)
 
Saturday, February 8
10 a.m. – Grambling vs. Alabama State
12 p.m. – Alabama State vs. UT Martin
2 p.m. – Buffalo vs. Grambling
4 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. Buffalo (Southeastern Sports Network)
6 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. UT Martin (Southeastern Sports Network)
 
Sunday, February 9
10 a.m. – Alabama State vs. Buffalo
12 p.m. – UT Martin vs. Grambling
2 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. Grambling (Southeastern Sports Network)
 
Home teams are underlined

SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @LionUpSoftball on Twitter and Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
HOME RUN CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the softball program are encouraged to join the Home Run Club. Lady Lion softball 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 Home Run Club and S Club (softball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern softball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events (softball, baseball, football and basketball), effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.