******** UPDATE: The schedule for Saturday's games has now been announced. The Cardinals will play Hofstra at noon in Saturday's first game, then play the series finale 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. The final game Saturday will be a seven-inning game. *************
BEAUMONT, Texas – After facing adversity in the form of inclement weather, rescheduling, and opening its season with four games against teams that made the NCAA tournament in 2017, Lamar University (1-3) looks to bounce back this weekend in a four-game series against Hofstra University (0-0). The Cardinals will host the Pride on Friday and Saturday at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
Due to inclement weather expected over the weekend, fans should expect a somewhat flexible schedule. The first game, originally slotted for a 6 p.m. start Friday, is now scheduled 1 p.m. with a second game Friday evening starting 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. Saturday is still expected to have two games, but the start times will now be announced Friday evening.
Tickets for the entire weekend series are still available and can be found on the Cardinal Baseball schedule page, and each game will be broadcast on the Big Red Sports Network. Links for the broadcasts can be found below:
Game 1: Video l Live Stats l Tickets
Game 2: Video l Live Stats l Tickets
Game 3: Video l Live Stats l Tickets
Game 4: Video l Live Stats l Tickets
The Last Time Out – at #14 Texas
Lamar jumped out early on #14 Texas (3-1) but couldn't hold on Wednesday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field with temperatures dropping to as low as 41 with a wind chill of 37. The Longhorns defeated the Cardinals 7-2.
Robin Adames had two hits and two RBI, including a solo home run, and
Taylor Rich impressed in his Cardinal debut, striking out four while allowing just one run and three hits to a nationally-ranked Big 12 team. A full recap of the game can be found
here or by clicking on "The Last Time Out" sub-headline.
Lamar vs. Hofstra
Series Record
Lamar vs. Hofstra: First Meeting
Scheduled Starters:
Friday Game 1: RHP
Jace Campbell (0-1, 6.75 ERA) vs.
RHP Matt Weissheir (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Friday Game 2: LHP
Grason Wright (0-1, 4.50 ERA) vs.
LHP John Rooney (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Saturday Game 1: LHP
Noah Sills (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs.
RHP Brad Camarda (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Saturday Game 2: RHP
Jack Dallas (0-0, 6.75 ERA) vs.
RHP Seamus Brazill (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Hofstra comes to The Beck with no official games this season, though the Pride has played exhibition games in the Dominican Republic to open 2018 against the Academy teams of the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Mejia and Neno Baseball, and the Washington Nationals. The Pride won four of those six games.
Hofstra is guided by John Russo, now in his seventh season as skipper of the Pride. His 2012 team won 34 games and made the Colonial Athletic Association tournament in his inaugural season, but the 2016 and 2017 teams combined for just 29 wins.
Steven Foster paced Hofstra offensively in 2017 with a team-best .317 batting average and 64 hits, including 17 doubles, two triples, and three home runs with 20 RBI. He also scored 30 runs and stole a team-high eight bases.
The pitching staff had a combined ERA of 6.00 last season, ranked 240th in the country, and led the conference in beaned batters with 61 on the year.
