HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team travels to the New Orleans lakefront this weekend for the 10^th annual Pontchartrain Bowl rivalry series against UNO, a three-game Southland Conference series at Maestri Field.
 
Games between Southeastern (20-5, 7-2, SLC) and the Privateers (13-10, 6-6 SLC) are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. UNO has won the Pontchartrain Bowl each of the last two seasons, but the Lions have won five times in the trophy's nine-year existence.
 
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.
 
The Lions are coming off a pair of non-conference wins, 16-5, Tuesday over LSU Alexandria and, 13-0, Wednesday over Mississippi Valley State. SLU, which is hitting .313 as a team, ranks eighth nationally with 47 home runs.
 
Southeastern also leads the nation in shutouts (6) in addition to ranking fourth in double plays turned (26) and eighth with a 3.17 ERA.
 
The Lions are led at the plate by Giovanni Licciardi (.415, 12 RBI), Ryan Brome (.398, 10 HR, 26 RBI), Dane Watts (.395, 2 HR, 17 RBI), Ben Robichaux (.328, 4 HR 13 RBI), Conner O'Neal (.323, 8 HR, 23 RBI) and TJ Salvaggio (.313, 6 HR, 26 RBI).
 
Right-hander Brennan Stuprich (6-0, 1.17) draws the starting nod for the Lions on the mound in the series opener. The redshirt senior from Kenner, Louisiana will be opposed by UNO senior right-hander Grant Edwards (0-2, 4.06).
 
Saturday's pitching matchup features junior right-hander Luke Lirette (1-1, 5.59) for SLU. The junior from Houma, Louisiana will counter Privateer redshirt junior right-hander Skylar Jones (3-0, 4.91).
 
Blake Lobell (2-1, 4.12), a junior right-hander from Holden, Louisiana, earns the start on the mound for Southeastern in Sunday's contest. UNO is slated to throw senior left-hander Zach Longshore (0-3, 11.42).
 
Bryce Calloway (.387, 10 HR, 29 RBI), Bryan Loriga (.378, 4 HR, 23 RBI), Collin Loupe (.371, 2 HR, 13 RBI) and Matt Gonzalez (.368, 3 HR, 15 RBI) are the Privateers' leading hitters.
 
Brome and Calloway are tied for the Southland lead in home runs.
 
After dropping two of three games in Southland action at home last weekend to Northwestern State, UNO bounced back to defeat Tulane, 7-6, Tuesday in non-conference action at Maestri Field.
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern remains on the road early next week, traveling to Mobile, Alabama for a non-conference matchup Tuesday at South Alabama. First pitch against the Jaguars is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field. It is the first of two games this season against USA.
 
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.