HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University softball team will open the 2022 season this week hosting the three-day Lion Classic I at North Oak Park.
 
The tournament opens Friday with Southeastern facing Southeast Missouri at 5 p.m. to close out the opening day of action. Friday's game will be televised on ESPN+ and the first 100 fans will receive a free seat cushion.
 
On Saturday, SLU takes on SEMO again at 3 p.m. before facing Alabama A&M at 5 p.m.
Live stats for the entire tournament will be accessible at LionSports.net/sidearmstats/softball.
 
Southeastern returns five positional starters and the top three pitchers from a team that finished 28-23 overall last spring. Audrey Greely (.398, 35 runs, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 18 SB in 2021), Aeriyl Mass (.369, 39 runs, 10 2B, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 30 SB), Lindsey Rizzo (.346, 32 runs, 30 SB), Cam Goodman (.322, 28 runs, 4 3B, 23 RBI, 29 SB) and Madisen Blackford (.259, 21 RBI) all return to lead the Lady Lions.
 
Heather Zumo (16-7, 2.27 ERA), MC Comeaux (9-5, 4.62 ERA) and Ellie DuBois (0-2, 3.03 ERA, school-record six saves) are all back in the circle for Southeastern. The Lady Lions finished 2021 with a team earned run average of 3.79.
 
Southeast Missouri is coming off a 2021 season in which it finished 30-17 overall. Kynzie Wrigley (.336) is the top returning hitter for average for the Redhawks, while Kaylee Anderson returns after hitting 14 home runs and driving in 35 runs a season ago to go with a .311 average. Top pitchers Rachel Rook (20-9, 2.36 ERA, 4 saves), Paytience Holman (7-7, 3.02 ERA, 1 save) and Marisa Davis (3-0, 2.62 ERA, 3 saves) are all back for SEMO.
 
Alabama A&M finished 11-19 overall last spring and its top returner is Esperanza Coe. Coe led the team with a .314 batting average with five home runs and 17 RBI in 2021, while also finishing with a 9-9 record and 4.98 ERA in the circle.
 
Following this week's opening tournament, Southeastern will head to Las Cruces, New Mexico to participate in the Troy Cox Invitational, hosted by New Mexico State on Feb. 18-20.
 
2022 Lion Classic I Schedule – Feb. 11-13 – North Oak Park – Hammond, La.
 
Friday, February 11
1 p.m. – Southeast Missouri (home) vs. Alabama A&M
3 p.m. – Nicholls vs. Alabama A&M (home)
5 p.m. – Southeastern vs. Southeast Missouri
 
Saturday, February 12
11 a.m. – Nicholls (home) vs. Alabama A&M
1 p.m. – Nicholls (home) vs. Southeast Missouri
3 p.m. – Southeastern vs. Southeast Missouri
5 p.m. – Southeastern vs. Alabama A&M
 
Sunday, February 13
11 a.m. – Southeast Missouri (home) vs. Nicholls
 
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.