HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University softball team will officially open the 2023 season, hosting the three-team Lion Classic this week at North Oak Park.
 
SLU will face defending Missouri Valley Conference tournament champion Missouri State Friday at 5 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. The visiting Bears will also face Nicholls Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
The three Lady Lion games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats for all five tournament contests will be available at www.LionSports.net/sidearmstats/softball. Fans can get postgame autographs from their favorite Lady Lions following Friday's season opener. Every home Saturday during the 2023 campaign will feature Bingo at the Ballpark with fans having an opportunity to win prizes from Southeastern Athletics.
 
Much of the firepower in the lineup returns for eighth-year SLU head coach Rick Fremin's squad, as the Lady Lions bring back six starters from a season ago. All-Southland performers Cam Goodman (.426, 38 runs, 30 SB in 2022), Audrey Greely (.344, 10 2B, 32 runs, 23 RBI), Bailey Krolczyk (.333, 34 runs, 9 2B, 3 HR, 23 RBI), Maddie Watson (.331, 10 2B, 7 HR, 52 RBI) and Madison Rayner (.327, 16 2B, 5 HR, 44 RBI) are all back this spring.
 
With Lexi Johnson (.302, 13 2B, 7 HR, 38 RBI) also returning and expected to make the transition to first base, much of the lineup will remain the same. Veterans Sarah Diaz, Blaire Bizette and Sadie Hewitt, as well as newcomers Maddie Leal, Maria Detillier, Colleen Kulivan, McKayla Ferguson, Ka'Lyn Watson, Madison Hebert, Jillian Gutierrez and Britt Bourgoyne, will bolster the offensive attack.
 
In the circle, Southeastern's most experienced returners are KK Ladner (8-3, 3.00 ERA, 1 save) and Mary-Cathryn (MC) Comeaux (10-3, 3.72 ERA, 1 save), as well as the school's career and single-season saves leader in Ellie DuBois (0-1, 3.55 ERA, 2 saves). Alyssa Romano (0-3, 2.28 ERA, 1 save) and Leah Marshall (0-0, 0.00 ERA) also are back for the Lady Lions. Cera Blanchard leads a trio of pitching newcomers that includes Chyanne Ellett and Lainee Bailey.
 
Missouri State's top two returning hitters are Alex Boze (.325, 11 HR, 31 RBI) and Olivia Krehbiel (11 HR, 31 RBI). The Bears will be replacing their top two pitchers from last season, but come into 2023 with six arms in their arsenal.
 
Following the Lion Classic, Southeastern will close out its season-opening four-game home stand with a 5 p.m. contest versus Louisiana Tech Feb. 15 at North Oak Park. All of SLU's home softball games in 2023 will be televised on ESPN+.
 
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.