HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana returns to Southland Conference action this weekend for the first time in nearly two weeks, hosting in-state rival Nicholls for a portion of the series at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
Games against the Colonels (18-25, 13-15 SLC) in Hammond are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday and a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday. Southeastern (26-15, 18-10 SLC) will travel to Thibodaux, Louisiana for a 2 p.m. series finale Sunday at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field.
 
The Lions enter the weekend in a first-place tie with New Orleans (25-19, 20-12 SLC) in the conference standings and 1.5 games ahead of third-place Sam Houston (20-18, 16-11 SLC). Nicholls is tied for eighth with Lamar (19-15, 11-13 SLC), just one-half game in front of SFA (15-24, 12-15 SLC) and one full game ahead of Central Arkansas (17-22, 12-16 SLC).
 
All four games can be heard in the Hammond area on the flagship station of the Southeastern Sports Radio Network – KSLU 90.9 FM – in addition to online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via both the Lions Gameday Experience and TuneIn Radio apps.
 
Other options to follow the action this weekend include live statistics or the @LionUpBaseball Twitter account. Links to audio, video and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
Southeastern is coming off a 5-3 win Wednesday over No. 19-ranked Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
 
Tyler Finke (.337), Evan Keller (.329), Christian Garcia (.317) and Jacob Burke (.291) are the Lions' leading hitters. Burke paces the squad in extra-base hits (11 doubles, two triples, six home runs) and stolen bases (22). Preston Faulkner is tied with Burke for the team lead in RBIs (36). Eight different players have driven in at least 20 runs this season.
 
Junior right-hander Will Warren (6-2, 3.18) takes the ball Friday for Southeastern against sophomore righty Chase Gearing (4-3, 3.98) for the Colonels.
 
Senior right-hander Noah Hughes (1-3, 4.86) draws the starting assignment in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. Nicholls will counter with senior right-hander Trever Kilcrease (2-6, 6.12). Freshman right-hander Brennan Stuprich (5-1, 2.50) heads to the bump for Southeastern in the second half of the doubleheader while the Colonels plan to start freshman right-hander Devin Desandro (3-2, 3.43).
 
Nicholls plans to start sophomore Nick Heckman (1-5, 4.96) Sunday in Thibodaux. The Lions will go with freshman right-hander Will Kinzeler (4-2, 3.29).
 
Wes Toups (.274), Austin Cain (.264) and Dillon Belle (.248) are the Colonels' top hitters. Toups paces the team in extra-base hits (seven doubles, one triple, three home runs). Basiel Williams leads the squad with four home runs and Greg Anderberg has driven in a team-high 20 runs. Dane Simon leads the team with 16 stolen bases.
 
The Colonels split a Southland series this past weekend with Incarnate Word before their Wednesday non-conference matchup with Prairie View A&M was canceled.
 
LIONS GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE APP
The 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 or by following the link www.LionSports.net/App.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Baseball single-game tickets are currently on sale for the remainder of the regular season. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to minimize ticket lines on game days. Southeastern students are encouraged to contact the ticket office prior to the game to reserve theirs in advance.
 
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 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays. The ticket booth at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field opens exactly one hour prior to the scheduled first pitch.

MOBILE TICKETING
Southeastern implemented mobile ticketing as the primary method for securing tickets during the 2020-21 school year. Tickets will be available via text message or email in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet. 
 
GAMEDAY PARKING
Gameday parking during the 2021 season is $5 per day for Southeastern baseball, while football parking is $25 per day for most vehicles and $85 for RVs.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics enforces a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. The policy mirrors safety precautions required for entrance to professional and collegiate sporting venues throughout the country. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/Clear.
 
SOCIAL DISTANCING ON GAMEDAYS
Southeastern, which is following state and local health guidelines for outdoor events set forth by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, has returned to 100 percent capacity at all athletic events. Fans are asked to maintain a comfortable distance from others when possible, wear a face covering over both their nose and mouth, and wash their hands frequently. Hand sanitizing stations are located throughout Southeastern's athletic facilities.
 
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
Nicholls (18-25, 13-15 SLC) at Southeastern Louisiana (26-15, 18-10 SLC)
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field (Hammond, Louisiana)
Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field (Thibodaux, Louisiana)
 
DATES | TIMES | PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, May 7 – 6 p.m. (CT)
NICH – RHP Chase Gearing (4-3, 3.98) vs.
SLU – RHP Will Warren (6-2, 3.18)
 
Saturday, May 8 – 1 p.m. (CT)
NICH – RHP Trever Kilcrease (2-6, 6.12) vs.
SLU – RHP Noah Hughes (1-3, 4.86)
 
NICH – RHP Devin Desandro (3-2, 3.43) vs.
SLU – RHP Brennan Stuprich (5-1, 2.50)
 
Sunday, May 9 – 2 p.m. (CT)
SLU – RHP Will Kinzeler (4-2, 3.29) vs.
NICH – RHP Nick Heckman (1-5, 4.96)
 
RADIO | VIDEO | INTERNET | MOBILE DEVICES
• Radio – KSLU, 90.9 FM
• Video – ESPN+
• www.LionSports.net – live audio, stats and video
• Lions Gameday Experience app, TuneIn Radio app