HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team will host McNeese in a Southland Conference series that matches up two of the top four teams in the league, along with a full slate of promotions, this weekend at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
Games between conference-leading Southeastern (17-3, 6-0, SLC) and fourth-place McNeese (15-4, 6-3 SLC) are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. All three games will be carried on ESPN+. Live stats will be available in the Lions Gameday Experience app and online at www.LionSports.net.
 
Fans can listen to 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.
 
Friday's game is All Abilities Night. The Lions will celebrate the amazing abilities of everyone in our community. Fans will be allowed to stand with their favorite Lion player for the national anthem.
 
Saturday's game is Alumni Day. All former Lion baseball players and personnel are invited to enjoy the game and participate in a pregame ceremony on the field. Special recognition will be paid to members of SLU's 1975 College World Series squad. Fans will also be able to play Baseball Bingo during the game.
 
Sunday is Military Appreciation Day. Free general admission tickets to the game are available for active military members who present a valid service ID at the gate.
 
The Lions are coming off a, 7-1, non-conference win Wednesday over UL Lafayette. SLU, which is hitting .315 as a team, ranks eighth nationally with 43 home runs.
 
Southeastern also leads the nation in shutouts (4) in addition to ranking fourth in double plays turned (22) and fifth with a 2.95 ERA.
 
The Lions are led at the plate by Dane Watts (.431, 2 HR, 14 RBI), Giovanni Licciardi (.400, 10 RBI), Ryan Brome (.392, 10 HR, 24 RBI), TJ Salvaggio (.325, 6 HR, 20 RBI), Conner O'Neal (.319, 5 HR, 13 RBI) and Ben Robichaux (.316, 4 HR 12 RBI). Brome leads the conference, and ranks seventh nationally, in home runs.
 
Right-hander Brennan Stuprich (5-0, 1.45) draws the starting nod for the Lions on the mound in the series opener. The redshirt senior from Kenner, Louisiana will be opposed by McNeese senior left-hander Cooper Golden (1-1, 7.08).
 
Saturday's pitching matchup features junior right-hander Lakin Polk (3-0, 0.75) for SLU. The junior from Ponchatoula, Louisiana will counter Cowboy senior left-hander Alexis Gravel (2-1, 3.09).
 
Blake Lobell (2-0, 3.29), a junior right-hander from Holden, Louisiana, earns the start on the mound for Southeastern in Sunday's contest. McNeese has not announced a starting pitcher for the series finale.
 
Easton Dowell (.400, 4 HR, 13 RBI), Larry Edwards Jr. (.338, 1 HR, 13 RBI), Davis Meche (.308, 5 RBI) and Conner Westenburg (.303, 4 HR, 12 RBI) are the Cowboys' leading hitters.
 
McNeese, which took two of three from defending Southland champion Lamar this past weekend, defeated John Melvin University, 10-1, in non-conference action Wednesday in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
 
ALUMNI DAY
Registered baseball alums, along with one guest, will be granted free admission and are welcome to join in the pregame recognition ceremony on the field. Also set to be honored are members of SLU's 1975 College World Series team. The ceremony lineup begins at 1:15 p.m. next to Southeastern's third-base dugout.
 
Jambalaya and a tour of the clubhouse will be provided for alums who arrive by 1 p.m.
 
Baseball alums can register on-site or RSVP in advance by emailing Allie Crain of the Lion Athletics Association at allie.crain@southeastern.edu.
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern hosts a pair of non-conference games next week. The Lions face LSU Alexandria at 6 p.m. Tuesday. SLU then hosts Mississippi Valley State at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
 
Kids (age 12 and under) will be able to join their favorite Lion player on the field for the national anthem and the concession will be serving up $2 hot dogs at both games.
 
Wednesday's game is also the first Teachers in the Bleachers game of the season. All local area teachers will receive a discounted rate on general admission tickets when presenting their school ID card when purchasing tickets at the ballpark.
 
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
McNeese (15-4, 6-3 SLC) at Southeastern (17-3, 6-0 SLC)
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field (Hammond, Louisiana)
 
DATES | TIMES | PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday, March 21 – 6 p.m. (CT)
MCN – LHP Cooper Golden (1-1, 7.08) vs.
SLU – RHP Brennan Stuprich (5-0, 1.45)
 
Saturday, March 22 – 2 p.m. (CT)
MCN – LHP Alexis Gravel (2-1, 3.09) vs.
SLU – RHP Lakin Polk (3-0, 0.75)
 
Sunday, March 23 – 1 p.m. (CT)
MCN – TBA (0-0, 0.00) vs.
SLU – RHP Blake Lobell (2-0, 3.29)
 
RADIO | VIDEO | INTERNET | MOBILE DEVICES
• Radio – KSLU 90.9 The Lion
• TV / Video – ESPN+
• www.LionSports.net – live stats, audio and video
• Lions Gameday Experience app