BEAUMONT, Texas – After playing 14 of its first 17 games in the friendly confines of Vincent-Beck Stadium, Lamar University (4-13, 0-3 SLC) has just three games left at home before heading on the road for seven of its final eight games in March. The Cards will host Southeastern Louisiana (13-6, 2-1 SLC) in a three-game Southland Conference series starting this Friday at 6 p.m.

The Last Time Out – Sam Houston State
Two errors Friday night allowed two unearned runs for the Bearkats Friday night in a 3-1 loss for the Cards, who outhit Sam Houston 7-5 in the first of three games at The Beck. Lamar collected 10 more hits in a 5-2 loss to SHSU Saturday, and after allowing just one unearned run through four innings Sunday, a tough fifth inning led to an 8-1 loss for the Cards in the series finale.

The Cards collected 26 hits against one of the best teams in the Southland and limited a Bearkat offense that ranked 26th in the NCAA in batting average (.310) to .268 through three games.

Lamar vs. Southeastern Louisiana

Series Record
All-Time Series: Lamar leads 42-33
At Lamar: Lamar leads 2-13
At Southeastern Louisiana: Tied 17-17
At Neutral Site: Lamar leads 4-3
Coach Davis against Southeastern: Southeastern leads 2-1
Coach Riser against Lamar: Southeastern leads 10-2

Scheduled Starters:
Friday: RHP Jace Campbell (0-2, 3.72 ERA) vs. RHP Josh Green (2-1, 5.23 ERA)
Saturday: LHP Noah Sills (2-1, 0.74 ERA) vs. RHP Carlisle Koestler (3-0, 1.12 ERA)
Sunday: LHP Jason Blanchard (0-2, 1.86 ERA) vs. RHP Kade Granier (1-2, 4.63 ERA)

Southeastern Louisiana is 13-6 this season with victories over #20 Louisiana-Lafayette, #25 UConn, #14 LSU, at Tulane, and against #19 Mississippi State. The Lions have won seven of their last nine including two of three against New Orleans. SLU is in its fifth season under Matt Riser, who has an impressive 170-91 record as the Lions' skipper and is 87-36 in the Southland.

The Lions are scoring an average of 6.3 runs per game (sixth in the SLC) while surrendering 3.68 earned runs per game (third in the SLC). They've drawn a league-best 99 walks this year, and are the best in the conference at stolen bases (2.89 per game).

Drew Avans is the SLC's league leader in base on balls with 18 this season, averaging almost one walk a game. He's third-best on the team in batting average (.328), and has the second-most Lion RBIs this year (17). Avans (10 steals) and Cody Grosse (nine steals) are the top two in the SLC in steals, and Grosse has the second-most hits league-wide with 27.

Carlisle Koestler has a 1.13 ERA through 24 innings pitched, the third-best ERA amongst qualifying pitchers in the Southland, 27 strikeouts (fourth in the SLC), and a 3-0 record in five appearances (first in the SLC).

News and Notes from Lamar

CARDS SAY MAHALO TO HAWAIIAN PHENOM
Noah Sills, a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, that transferred to Lamar after two seasons at Alvin Junior College, has been a revelation for Lamar in four starts this season. He leads the SLC in ERA (0.74), and ranks in the Top Five in starts (first, four), strikeout to walk ratio (fifth, 5.00), wins (fourth, two), and walks allowed per nine innings (third, 1.48). He's on pace for 78.1 innings pitched with 65 K's to 13 walks in 2018.

BIG RED BATS COMING ALIVE
Lamar struggled a bit at the plate in February, hitting just .192 in the opening month. Since the calendar flipped to March the Cards have dramatically improved, hitting .254 this month. 

Ingram has led the way with a .417 average in 24 at-bats with three walks and four strikeouts, and Cole Coker has been right behind with an average of .407 with a 11-of-17 performance, two walks, two strikeouts, and three RBI. Robin Adames has eight hits in the last seven games with two walks, and Chase Whetsel went 7-of-29 for a .241 rate, including three RBI and both of Lamar's homers in March. Grant DeVore has led in the RBI department with four on four hits and two walks.