BEAUMONT, Texas – Looking to take a one-game lead over Rice University (5-6) in the head-to-head series at Vincent-Beck Stadium, Lamar University (4-9) will host the Owls on Wednesday in a baseball battle of the birds.

The Last Time Out – UTRGV
A tough fourth inning Friday allowed UTRGV to take the first game 5-2, and Lamar held a 4-1 lead over UTRGV heading into the eighth inning Saturday before dropping the game 8-5 in extras. The Cards rebounded in a big way Sunday, jumping out to a big first-inning lead in a 5-3 victory.

Philip Ingram and Cole Coker led the way for Big Red at the plate, with Ingram hitting .667 with three runs scored, three walks, and an RBI and Coker swinging .545 with two runs scored, two walks, and two RBI.

Lamar vs. Rice

Series Record

All-Time Series: Rice leads 81-48
At Vincent-Beck: Tied 28-28
At Reckling Park: Rice leads 53-20
At Neutral Site: N/A
Will Davis vs. Rice: Tied 1-1
Wayne Graham vs. Lamar: Rice leads 36-18

Scheduled Starters:
LHP Jason Blanchard (0-1, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Roel Garcia (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

The Owls of Rice University are in their 27th season under collegiate baseball legend Wayne Graham, who has 1,152 wins as the Rice skipper. This season the Owls have experienced success at home with a 3-1 record, but have struggled away from the friendly confines of Reckling Park with a 2-5 mark.

The Owls project as an above average pitching team and a somewhat average hitting team, with a team ERA of 3.75 (fifth-best in the CUSA) and a scoring average of 4.7 runs (eighth in the CUSA). They've stolen just six bases this year, 10th out of 12 teams in their conference, which is surprising considering the amount of base runners they've had this season (52 on walks alone, third in the CUSA). Eight doubles, three triples, and six homers show the Owls can hit for power.

Ford Proctor leads the team in batting average (.405), walks (11), on-base percentage (.510), and sac flies (three). Ryan Chandler has 20 hits this season and is second on the team in batting average (.392). With Rice playing at Texas State on Tuesday, fans will have to wait until Wednesday morning to find out who the Cards will be facing from the mound.

News and Notes from Lamar

NEW PITCHERS, NO PROBLEMS
Five of LU's six starters so far this season are new to the team, including Noah Sills, Jack Dallas, Grason Wright, Jason Blanchard, and Taylor Rich. They've combined for a 2.27 ERA through 43.2 innings pitched,
notching a 2-3 record in 10 appearances with 42 hits allowed and 36 strikeouts.

FAST START
Lamar has been incredibly aggressive in the opening inning, outscoring opponents 11-2.

BUSY BIG RED
Lamar has played 13 games in just the first 17 days of the 2018 season, the second-most games so far this season.

Only Florida A&M (15 games, 6-9 record) has played more. LU is tied with Texas Tech, Florida, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Coastal Carolina, UIW, San Diego, South Alabama, Kennesaw State, Pacific, CSU Bakersfield, and Bethune-Cookman.