HAMMOND, La. – The Southland Conference Preseason No. 1-ranked Southeastern Louisiana University baseball program opens its 2022 season Friday, kicking off a three-game series against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
Game times for the series are 1 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. All three games will air on ESPN+.
 
Friday's opening game and Sunday's finale can be heard online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via both the Lions Gameday Experience, Mixlr and MyTuner Radio apps. The MyTuner app is compatible with the Apple CarPlay software available in most late model automobiles. Fans should search for the Southeastern Sports Radio Network on both Mixlr and MyTuner.
 
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.
 
General admission tickets are $9 for adults and $6 for youth (ages 3-12). Southeastern students, with a university ID, and children under age 2 are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets. Gameday parking is $5 per day for standard vehicles and $25 for RVs.
 
Friday, fans checking in on the Lions' Gameday Experience app will receive double points and following the game, the Krewe of Omega parade will roll right past the ballpark. Prior to Saturday's game is a special ceremony in memory of Lion for Life Kaleb "Mamou" Manuel. The former SLU player and coach, Manuel passed away in September following a lengthy battle with cancer.
 
The Lions finished last season with a 32-24 record and were the No. 3-seeded team in the Southland Conference Tournament.
 
Southeastern enters the 2022 season with a Southland-leading eight players on the preseason All-Conference squads. First baseman Preston Faulkner (.269-8-48), shortstop Evan Keller (.314-3-27), catcher Bryce Grizzaffi (.295-3-12), outfielder Tyler Finke (.318-4-29) and right-handed pitcher Brennan Stuprich (6-3, 2.31) all earned first-team honors.
 
Representing the Lions on the second team are second baseman Rhett Rosevear (.292-1-12), outfielder Christian Garcia (.295-5-30) and right-handed pitcher Will Kinzeler.
 
Kinzeler (4-4, 4.33), a sophomore right-hander, takes the ball for SLU in the opener against Cougar sophomore right-hander Noah Matheny (5-4, 5.23).
 
Junior right-hander Hayden Robb, a transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, draws the Lions' starting assignment Saturday opposite SIUE senior right-hander Brant Glidewell (6-1, 4.45).
 
In Sunday's series finale, Southeastern will start senior right-hander Hunter O'Toole (1-0, 7.11) against Cougar senior right-hander Collin Baumgartner (1-1, 3.05 in 2020).
 
SIUE (23-27) is led by Ohio Valley Preseason All-Conference selections Brady Bunten (.280-13-42), a redshirt-sophomore designated hitter, and Brett Johnson (.305-10-33), a junior outfielder.

UP NEXT
Following Monday's debut episode of Inside Southeastern Baseball with Matt Riser, the Lions travel to Lafayette, Louisiana to face the UL Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (32-23). First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. at Russo Park at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field. It will be the 155^th matchup in the all-time series and the first time the two schools have faced each other on the diamond since February of 2020. The Ragin' Cajuns lead the all-time series, 80-74.
 
RADIO SHOW
The 2022 debut episode of Inside Southeastern Baseball with Matt Riser, presented by Pour House Pizza and Beer Garden, will be Monday at 12 p.m. from the restaurant in downtown Hammond. Fans can listen to every show online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via the Lions Gameday Experience, MyTuner Radio or Mixlr apps. The MyTuner Radio app is compatible with the Apple CarPlay software available in most newer automobiles.
 
TICKET & PARKING INFORMATION
Single-game tickets are 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.
 
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.

Southeastern uses mobile ticketing as the primary method for distributing tickets purchased online. 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. 
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
SIUE (23-27) at Southeastern (32-24)
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field (Hammond, Louisiana)
 
DATES | TIMES | PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, Feb. 18 – 1 p.m. (CT)
SIUE – RHP Noah Matheny (5-4, 5.23) vs.
SLU – RHP Will Kinzeler (4-4, 4.33)
 
Saturday, Feb. 19 – 2 p.m. (CT)
SIUE – RHP Brant Glidewell (6-1, 4.45) vs.
SLU – RHP Hayden Robb (---, ----)
 
Sunday, Feb. 20 – 1 p.m. (CT)
SIUE – RHP Collin Baumgartner (1-1, 3.05 in 2020) vs.
SLU – RHP Hunter O'Toole (1-0, 7.11)
 
RADIO | VIDEO | INTERNET | MOBILE DEVICES
• Video – ESPN+
• www.LionSports.net – live audio, stats and video
• Lions Gameday Experience app, MyTuner Radio app, Mixlr App (search Southeastern Sports Radio Network)