The Teams: Tarleton State (0-0,0-0 WAC) vs. Southeastern Louisiana (0-0,0-0 SLC)
Where: Hammond, Louisiana 
Ballpark: Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field
Day and Time: Friday at 6 P.M. CT, Saturday at 2 P.M. CT, Sunday at 12 P.M. CT
Streaming Platform: ESPN+
 
About the Matchup
 
Game Notes
 
•     This series will mark the first ever meeting between the Texans and the Lions. 
•     The Texans welcome a new head coach in the 2024 season, Fuller Smith.
•     Coach Smith is accompanied by Nick Zaleski, RD Spiehs and Cody Semler in their inaugural year with the Texan Baseball program.
•     The 2024 Texan Baseball program is comprised of 21 returners and 19 newcomers. 
•     The Purple and White ended the 2023 campaign with a win over Sam Houston on Senior Day to claim the series for Tarleton State, leaving the Texans at a .500 finish on the season. 
•     Southeastern Louisiana also completed the season with a 25-25 record after a series sweep over Northwestern State to close out the season with a six-game win streak.
 
Quick Hits
 
•     Zach Poe claimed a spot on the 2024 Preseason All-WAC Team.
•     The WAC Coaches poll picked Tarleton to finish ninth out of 11. 
•     Texan Baseball looks to add another notch to the win column with the current all-time season-opener record of 22-14 in favor of Tarleton State. 
•     With a road season-opener record of 7-10, the Texans aim to lock down a victory to kick-off the 2024 campaign.
•      In the previous season, Tarleton State saw their best record since 2018, when the Purple and White claimed the LSC Championship and closed out the year with a record of 35-17.
•     The 2023 season saw Tarleton State claim their first win over a Power Five team in program history. The Texans took down the Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas, on April 25 with a 6-2 final. 
•     Right-handed pitcher, Will Stevens was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 15th round of the MLB Draft. Stevens takes the slot as the ninth Texan in program history to be selected in the MLB's first-year player draft.
 
Fuller Smith Era
       On June 8, 2023, Fuller Smith was named the newest leader of Tarleton State's baseball program. The Alabama, native, has had a hand in the success of various programs, several of which the Texans will face in conference play. In the previous season, Smith wrapped up his three-year stint as an assistant coach for Sam Houston State University. Prior to his time in Huntsville, Smith spent six seasons at UT Arlington as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. The 2008 Ole Miss graduate has a plethora of experience that will be a core source of success for the Purple and White this season. The Fuller Smith Era (on the field) will officially commence with the weekend series against the SLU Lions. 
 
First Power 5 Victory
       With a 6-2 win over Baylor in Waco, Texas, on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Tarleton baseball picked up its first win over a Power Five team in program history. The Texans struck first in the first inning and never gave the lead up. Piercen McElyea played a big part in the win, striking out a season-high 10 in 5.0 innings of work, walking none. McElyea threw a first pitch strike to 18 of 23 batters he faced.
 
In the Box
  A handful of returners put up some impressive stats in the 2023 season and have proven to be a leading force for the Texans at the plate. Trace Morrison led the team with an impressive .365 batting average. Senior Mason Hammonds held the top numbers in runs (43), hits (64), doubles (16), and triples (4).  Cole Miears recorded a .487 on base percentage in the 2023 season to lead the Purple and White. 
 
Facility Upgrades
  The Tarleton Baseball Complex saw a significant face lift in the off season. Capacity was increased with the complex now seating over 1,000. A cantilever roof structure providing cover was added and a new press box was installed. This comes after new turf, lights and outfield wall were installed prior to the 2022 season. This scope was phase two for the baseball facility that will continue to see renovations over the coming months.
 
Strength in Numbers
    With a 40-man roster in the 2024 season, the Texans have a great balance of experience within the program. The Tarleton State roster is made up of nine freshman, five sophomores, 15 juniors, and 10 seniors. Out of the 25 upperclassmen on the team, only nine are new to Texan Nation. 
 
 Next Up
      Following the series against the Lions, the Purple and White will return to Stephenville to host the UTSA Roadrunners for their home opener on Feb. 20 at 4 P.M.
 
Preseason recognition
       To kick off the season, Senior, Zach Poe found his name on the 2024 Preseason All-WAC Team. The Madisonville, Texas, native is a strong arm for the Texans leading the team with the best ERA and WHIP, in 2023. The right-handed pitcher also led the team in appearances for the third consecutive season with 23, all out of the bullpen.
 
Broadcasting On the Worldwide Leader
       Part of the latest renovations to the Tarleton Baseball Complex and Tarleton Softball Complex included the capability to match ESPN standards of multiple camera angles on the broadcast. With that, Tarleton will stream select 2024 baseball and softball home games on ESPN+. All games that are not broadcasted on ESPN+ will be broadcasted on WAC International. 
 
WAC Preseason Poll
       Tarleton was chosen to finis ninth out of 11 schools in the WAC preseason poll. The poll was released on Feb. 6.  The Texans received 34 total votes and was slotted in ahead of Stephen F. Austin and Utah Tech. Grand Canyon was picked to win the league, followed by Utah Valley and California Baptist.
 
Hometown hero
       Trace Morrison is a Stephenville, Texas, native, that has made a large impact on the Texan Baseball program. The outfielder does a stellar job in the box leading the Purple and White with a .365 average at the plate, last season. In his first two seasons at Tarleton, Morrison has started in 57 games and saw time in a total of 68 matchups. The junior has amassed 97 putouts, with only two errors in two years for a .981 fielding percentage. Morrison's experience as a lifelong Texan paired with his consistent dedication to the game makes him a key player for Tarleton Baseball.