HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball program opens its 2024 season Friday, hosting Tarleton State in the opening contest of a three-game series at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
Weekend games between Southeastern (25-25 in 2023) and the Texans (26-26 in 2023) are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday. The series finale has been pushed up from its regularly scheduled time to accommodate Tarleton's travel plans. All three games are slated for coverage on ESPN+.
 
A pair of weekly promotions are on tap for the series. This season, Saturday games will feature Baseball Bingo and free general admission tickets are available each Sunday home game for active military members by presenting a valid service ID at the gate.
 
Fans can listen to the game broadcast in the Hammond area on 90.9 The Lion. In addition, an audio stream is available online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via the Lions Gameday Experience, TuneIn and MyTuner Radio apps. Both the TuneIn and MyTuner apps are compatible with the Apple CarPlay software available in most late-model automobiles. Search for KSLU 90.9 FM in the TuneIn app.
 
SLU opens the Bobby Barbier era having been picked to finish seventh in the Southland Conference this season. The 18th head coach in program history, the native of New Orleans, Louisiana spent the last seven seasons at the helm of conference foe Northwestern State.
 
The Lions return 18 letterwinners and six positional starters from last season's squad. Among the 20 newcomers is Preseason All-Southland Conference selection Jake Haze.
 
A grad transfer from Northwestern State, Haze hit .317 with 15 doubles, two triples and four home runs. He drove in 42 runs and scored another 36.
 
Southeastern's top returning bats are designated hitter Jake Killingsworth (.271, 1 HR, 31 RBI) and third baseman Shea Thomas (.267, 3 HR, 43 RBI).
 
For the second time in as many seasons, right-hander Brennan Stuprich (4-5, 6.12) draws the starting nod for the Lions in the season opener. The redshirt junior from Kenner, Louisiana will be opposed by Tarleton senior right-hander Piercen McElyea (3-1, 6.35).
 
Saturday's pitching matchup features redshirt junior right-hander Dakota Lee for SLU and senior left-hander Matt Haley (0-2, 6.57) for the Texans. Lee, who hails from Purvis, Mississippi, missed the entire 2023 season following an off-season injury after transferring from Pearl River CC.
 
Will Kinzeler (5-1, 3.34), a senior right-hander from Covington, Louisiana, earns the start on the mound in the series finale. He will be opposed by Tarleton freshman southpaw Braydon Risley.
 
The Texans return leading hitters Trace Morrison (.365, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 9 SB), Mason Hammonds (.308, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 16 2B), Jordan Andrade (.303, 1 HR, 16 RBI) and Cris Enriquez (.296, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 11 2B).
 
Entering its first season under head coach Fuller Smith, Tarleton ranked ninth in the 11-team Western Athletic Conference's preseason poll.
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern embarks on a four-game road trip through the state of Alabama. The Lions first midweek contest of the year is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. vs. South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. SLU follows that up with a weekend series against UAB in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
TICKET & PARKING INFORMATION
Single-game tickets for the month of February are now on sale. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to minimize ticket lines on game days. Southeastern students are encouraged to contact the ticket office before the game to reserve theirs in advance.
 
General admission tickets for most games are $11 for adults and $8 for youth (ages 3-12). Southeastern students, with a university ID, and children under age 2 are admitted for free. Gameday parking is $5 per day for standard vehicles and $25 for RVs.
 
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 before 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 the 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.
 
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 by visiting www.LionUp.com.
  
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Southeastern Baseball social media accounts (@LionUpBaseball) on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to stay engaged with the program.
 
The latest updates are also available at www.LionSports.net and the Lions Gameday Experience app. Available for both Android and iOS devices, the Gameday app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
 
OPPONENT | LOCATION
Tarleton State (26-26, 10-18 WAC) at Southeastern (25-25, 9-14 SLC)
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field (Hammond, Louisiana)
 
DATES | TIMES | PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday, Feb. 16 – 6 p.m. (CT)
TSU – RHP Piercen McElyea (3-1, 6.35) vs.
SLU – RHP Brennan Stuprich (4-5, 6.12)
 
Saturday, Feb. 17 – 2 p.m. (CT)
TSU – LHP Matt Haley (0-2, 6.57) vs.
SLU – RHP Dakota Lee (0-0, 0.00)
 
Sunday, Feb. 18 – 12 p.m. (CT)
TSU – LHP Braydon Risley (0-0, 0.00) vs.
SLU – RHP Will Kinzeler (5-1, 3.34)
 
RADIO | VIDEO | INTERNET | MOBILE DEVICES
• Radio – 90.9 The Lion (KSLU)
• TV / Video – ESPN+
• www.LionSports.net – live stats, audio and video
• Lions Gameday Experience, TuneIn and MyTuner Radio apps