Southeastern Louisiana Baseball Clinches Southland Regular Season Title
Lions to Host Hammond Bracket Tournament May 12–18
HAMMOND, LA — The Southeastern Louisiana University Lions have officially claimed the 2025 Southland Conference regular-season championship, securing the No. 1 seed for the upcoming SLC Baseball Tournament. It’s a major milestone for the program—and it’s coming home.
The Lions will host the Southland Conference Hammond Bracket, presented by GeoSurfaces, from May 12 through May 18 at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field in Hammond, giving them home-field advantage as they aim for a tournament title and a shot at the NCAA postseason.
A Season of Consistency
SLU locked up the regular-season crown with a decisive series win over Nicholls State, capping off a year marked by consistent play and clutch performances. The Lions rose to the top of the conference standings thanks to standout efforts from key players like Tyler Finke, Cade Gibson, and Christian Garcia, whose leadership and on-field execution helped set the tone throughout the season.
“Our guys have worked all year for this,” said head coach Matt Riser. “To be able to do it at home in front of our fans, in our ballpark—it’s special.”
With the top seed secured, SLU earns the right to host one of two SLC Tournament brackets. The Hammond Bracket, played in SLU’s own backyard, gives the Lions a considerable edge as they try to punch their ticket to the championship series.
Tournament Format
The Southland Conference tournament splits the field into two four-team brackets: the Hammond Bracket, hosted by SLU, and the Lake Charles Bracket, hosted by McNeese State. The winner of each bracket will meet in a best-of-three championship series to determine who claims the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals.
This format, adopted in recent years, ensures more competitive games and rewards teams with strong regular-season finishes like the Lions.
Looking Ahead
SLU enters the tournament not just as a top seed, but as one of the most complete teams in the conference. Their balance of pitching depth, offensive versatility, and defensive discipline has made them a formidable opponent all season long.
The Lions hope that home-field advantage and an energetic local crowd will give them the boost needed to finish what they started—and bring more hardware back to Hammond.
🎟️ Tickets and tournament details are available at lionsports.net.
🗓️ Southland Conference Hammond Bracket
Dates: May 12–18, 2025
Location: Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field, Hammond, LA
Hosted by: Southeastern Louisiana University
Presented by: GeoSurfaces
Format: Double-elimination bracket (top four seeds)
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