HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team returns to action on Friday when it travels to face in-state rival Nicholls in the first game of a split Southland Conference series at Ray E. Didier Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. The series moves to Hammond on Saturday for a 2 p.m. start before returning to Thibodaux for the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Southeastern (31-12, 13-8 Southland), which has won 30 or more games in a season for a school-record fourth consecutive year, has won its last two games including an 11-6 decision over Southern University on Tuesday. Against host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in their last conference series, the Lions avoided a sweep posting an 11-3 win behind a complete-game, four-hitter from Chris Franklin.

Jeff Harkensee, the Southland Conference leader with 21 doubles, leads Southeastern at the plate with a .343 average while hitting five home runs with 34 RBI. Justin Boudreaux, the league leader in RBI (49) and team leader in home runs (10), is next in hitting for the Lions at .325 followed by freshman Brock Hebert (.315-2-46), Cass Hargis (.314-0-31) and Cody Gougler (.313-4-29).

Right-hander Brandon Efferson (7-2, 2.84 ERA) will start in Friday's opener for the Lions with the starters for the final two games to be announced.

Nicholls (21-19, 10-11 Southland) has won its last three games and seven of its past eight, hitting .321 and averaging over seven runs during the span. Beau Faulk, who has hit safely in his last 11 games recording a .500 average in the process, leads the Colonels with a .404 average.