CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The No. 20-ranked Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team returns to Southland Conference play on Friday when it opens a three-game series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Chapman Field.

First pitch for Friday's opener is scheduled for 2 p.m. with Saturday's contest set for 2. The series concludes on Sunday at 1. All three games can be heard on internet only (courtesy of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) at www.LionSports.net. Southeastern (29-10, 11-5 SLC) is ranked No. 20 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, No. 24 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and No. 25 by Baseball America.

Southeastern enters the series against A&M-CC (14-23, 6-12 SLC) one game behind Texas State and one-half game behind Northwestern State in the league standings. Texas State and Northwestern State face off against each other in a three-game series beginning Friday in San Marcos, Texas.

The Lions claimed last week's series against Texas State taking two of three games before falling at Tulane, 6-0, in their lone midweek game on Tuesday.

Justin Boudreaux, who missed Tuesday's game with Tulane, leads Southeastern at the plate with a .338 average with 10 home runs and 48 RBI. Jeff Harkensee (.333-4-29), Cody Gougler (.333-4-29), Cass Hargis (.327-0-30) and Brock Hebert (.326-2-40) are next in hitting for Southeastern, which hits .297 as a team.

Brandon Efferson (7-1, 2.35 ERA) is slated to start in Friday's opener for Southeastern with right-hander Tyler Watkins (3-2, 4.30 ERA) expected to pitch on Saturday. Sunday's starter for the Lions is to be announced.

A&M-CC has dropped eight of its last 10 games, but salvaged a three-game sweep with a 6-3 win at Stephen F. Austin on Sunday. The Islanders, who split two games with visiting Mississippi State in the Whataburger Classic last month, have six regulars in the lineup hitting above .300 led by Matt Holland (.377-3-12).

Chris Vergne (.344-3-31), Trey Hernandez (.338-11-45), Cory Ege (.312-2-22), Weston Montgomery (.311-1-11) and Omar Garcia (.311-0-12) are next in hitting for A&M-CC, which enters the series with a .302 average.

Left-hander Jake Liedka (2-1, 6.90 ERA) is expected to pitch in Friday's opener for the Islanders with southpaw Adam Hoelscher (1-0, 3.86 ERA) slated to pitch Saturday and right-hander Brandon Orr (.2-4, 6.07 ERA) Sunday.