HAMMOND – With one season milestone already in place, the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team will look for more beginning Thursday when it plays host to in-state rival Northwestern State at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

First pitch for Thursday's opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. The series continues Friday at 6 p.m. before concluding with Senior Day on Saturday at 2. All three games can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net.

Southeastern (39-14, 21-9 Southland) established a new school record for most wins in a season after earning a three-game sweep last weekend at Stephen F. Austin. The Lions, who are tied with Texas State for the overall league lead, would clinch at least a share of their first-ever Southland Conference title if they finish in a tie with the Bobcats (Southeastern took two of three games last month).

A win against Northwestern State (33-19, 19-10 Southland) would give Southeastern its first-ever 40-win season while keeping the Lions on track for its first NCAA Regional appearance since 1994.

The Lions enter the weekend hitting .299 as a team and lead the Southland Conference with a .413 on-base percentage. Southeastern has paced the league in walks (253), sacrifice hits (55) and is second nationally in hit-by-pitches (110), which is one shy of the school record set last season and one shy of national leader High Point.

Sophomore Cody Gougler leads Southeastern at the plate with a .342 average followed by Jeff Harkensee (.319-5-38) and Justin Boudreaux (.319-12-64). Chris Ernest (.312-1-13), Cass Hargis (.311-1-41) and Josh Cryer (.308-4-42) are next in hitting for the Lions, who also lead the league in runs scored (421).

Junior Brandon Efferson (8-3, 3.15 ERA) will start on the mound in Thursday's opener for Southeastern with the remaining two pitchers to be announced.

Northwestern State, the Southland Conference leader in hits (577) and stolen bases (99), is hitting .323 as a team with six regulars hitting .319 or above. Eric DeBlanc (.385-6-37) leads the Demons at the plate with Oscar Garcia (.376-5-45), Tyler Baisley (.357-8-40) and Chase Lyles (.343-5-52) following.

Adam Roy (.326-3-46) and Justin Martinez (.319-6-26) are next in hitting for Northwestern State, which is one-and-a-half games behind Southeastern and Texas State in the league standings.

The Demons, who sport the lowest team ERA in the league (3.82), will send Luke Irvine (6-4, 2.57 ERA) to the mound on Thursday before sending Ryan Zimmerman (5-4, 3.09 ERA) to the hill on Friday. Saturday's starter for the Demons is to be announced.