HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team hosts Lindenwood in a four-game series to open the 2025 NCAA DI baseball season at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. Single games are slated for 6 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Saturday's doubleheader has been bumped up to 10 a.m. to avoid potential inclement weather.
 
Both games Saturday will feature Baseball Bingo while Sunday is Military Appreciation Day. Free general admission tickets are available Sunday for active military members who present a valid service ID at the gate.
 
All four games between Southeastern (30-28 in 2024) and the Lions of Lindenwood (16-38 in 2024) are slated for coverage on ESPN+.
 
Fans can listen to the game broadcasts in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 The Lion. In addition, an audio stream is available online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via the Lions Gameday Experience and MyTuner Radio apps. The MyTuner app is compatible with the Apple CarPlay software available in most late-model automobiles. Search for KSLU 90.9 FM in the TuneIn app.
 
Right-hander Brennan Stuprich (6-3, 2.87) draws the starting nod for the Lions on the mound in the season opener. The redshirt senior from Kenner, Louisiana will be opposed by Lindenwood junior right-hander Josh Newell (5-4, 5.21).
 
Saturday's doubleheader features pitching matchups that include junior right-hander Lakin Polk (5-4, 4.93) in the first game and redshirt senior left-hander Luke Barbier in the second game for SLU. Lindenwood will counter with senior right-hander Zach Buschschulte (1-9, 5.88) and senior lefty Eli Brown (2-6, 5.01) respectively.
 
Dakota Lee (1-3, 5.94), a redshirt senior right-hander from Covington, Mississippi, earns the start on the mound for Southeastern in the series finale. He will be opposed by Lindenwood junior left-hander Ethan Brown.
 
Following their first winning season in three years, SLU was picked by their Southland peers and D1Baseball to make a big jump in conference play. Both picked the Lions second in their preseason conference polls.
 
"I think we've settled in on the 12-13 position players we'll start with and 14-18 pitchers," Coach Bobby Barbier said. "Roles will be developed as the season goes on. We're in a much better spot than we were this time last year, having more guys ready to play. Now it's all about determining matchups and giving guys some opportunities to show what they can do."
 
Six preseason All-Conference selections lead the way for Southeastern. TJ Salvaggio, Cole Stromboe and Brennan Stuprich earned first-team honors. Parker Coley, Larson Fabre and Jude Hall picked up second-team honors.
 
Salvaggio led the Lions with 13 home runs and 42 RBIs last season. The senior from Slidell, Louisiana hit .295 on the way to scoring a team-high 52 runs.
 
"You see a confident player in TJ," Barbier said. "Here's a guy that came in as a walk-on four years ago. When that happens, sometimes you question whether you're good enough. Last year, when he became the guy, he embraced it and it made him that much better. He's been great for us, practices hard every day, gives really good at-bats and plays great defense."
 
Stromboe came on strong in the second half of the season. The redshirt senior from River Ridge, Louisiana finished the year with a .314 batting average, eight extra-base hits and 21 RBIs.
 
Both Coley and Hall enjoyed a power surge following Tax Day. Coley, a junior from Sterlington, Louisiana, blasted eight of his 12 home runs down the stretch. An All-Tournament selection last season, the Canadian-born Hall launched eight homers in a 10-game span during the season's final month.
 
Joining the solid cast of returnees are several newcomers with the potential to excite the fans in Hammond.
 
"Mo Little will be playing third base," Barbier said. "If he didn't lead the country in RBIs in junior college, then he was in the Top 5. He has good at-bats every single time. He's a walking good at-bat."
 
The junior from Brandon, Mississippi hit .348 with 15 doubles, a pair of triples and 12 home runs last season at East Central Community College, driving in 74 runs.
 
"Ben Robichaux will be playing second base," Barbier said. "He's been on fire lately, an uber-talented kid that's got every tool in the book."
 
The junior from Plaquemine, Louisiana spent the last two seasons at UL Lafayette. Throughout 61 games in his ULL career, he hit .228 with four home runs and stole 11 bases.
 
"Logan Walters is a transfer with big power," Barbier said. "He plays the game we like to play. He'll be in there. Giovanni Liccardi will have a chance. He's a throwback-type player, a dirtbag. It may not always be pretty, but he's the kind of guy you love to have on your team.
 
On the mound, the Lions have a deep stable of arms led by Stuprich. Bouncing back from an injury, he wrapped up last season with a 6-3 record and a 2.87 ERA that ranked second in the conference.
 
"Brennan really improved last year," Barbier said. "His fastball improved. His command improved. We switched to a four-seam and I think that helped him. The goal for him coming back was to really work on his off-speed stuff and get a little more swing-and-miss. He's done that. Whether he gets two outs or 15 outs Friday, he's done the job that we set out to do back in August.
 
The redshirt senior from Kenner, Louisiana parlayed that effort into recognition by D1Baseball earlier this week as their preseason pick for the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year.
 
"For a senior to come back and really lock it in, knowing what he has to work on – from the composure he pitches with to his mentality – it's really good for him, it's good for our staff and I'm glad he's throwing Friday night for us," Barbier said.
 
Barbier will have several options out of the bullpen, including the reigning Southland Conference Freshman of the Year. Fabre (3-1, 3.45) proved to be the Lions' most dependable relief option last season. The redshirt sophomore out of Denham Springs, Louisiana turned in scoreless outings during half of his appearances.
 
A private institution based in suburban St. Louis, Lindenwood enters its third season at the Division I level. The Lions were picked ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll.
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern continues its seven-game homestand to open the 2025 season, hosting Tulane at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. Kids will be able to stand on the field with their favorite Lion players for the national anthem and $2 hot dogs will be available at the concession stand.
 
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
Lindenwood (16-38 in 2024) at Southeastern (30-28 in 2024)
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field (Hammond, Louisiana)
 
DATES | TIMES | PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday, February 14 – 6 p.m. (CT)
SLU – RHP Brennan Stuprich (6-3, 2.87) vs.
LWU – RHP Josh Newell (5-4, 5.21)
 
Saturday, February 15 – 10 a.m. (CT) DH
SLU – RHP Lakin Polk (5-4, 4.93) vs.
LWU – RHP Zach Buschschulte (1-9, 5.88)
 
SLU – LHP Luke Barbier (0-0, 0.00) vs.
LWU – LHP Eli Brown (2-6, 5.01)
 
Sunday, February 16 – 1 p.m. (CT)
SLU – RHP Dakota Lee (1-3, 5.94) vs.
LWU – LHP Ethan Smith (0-0, 0.00)
 
RADIO | VIDEO | INTERNET | MOBILE DEVICES
• Radio – 90.9 The Lion
• TV / Video – ESPN+
• www.LionSports.net – live stats, audio and video
• Lions Gameday Experience app