BEAUMONT, Texas – The winners of four straight, Lamar University (11-26, 6-12 SLC) return to the friendly confines of Vincent-Beck Stadium this weekend for a three-game Southland Conference series against Abilene Christian University (18-17, 4-14 SLC). First pitch of the series is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday.

The Last Time Out – Northwestern State
 
Lamar got revenge Tuesday in a 3-2 win at Northwestern State (19-16). The Cards' pitching staff combined for eight scoreless innings including four from first-time starter Garrett Walker, and Robin Adames (2-of-5) and Cole Girouard (2-of-4) had multi-hit games. Girouard, Philip Ingram, and Avery George had the three Cardinal RBIs of the evening.
 
Jace Campbell got his first win of the season and Taylor Rich earned his first D-1 save.
 
Lamar vs. Abilene Christian
 
Series Record
All-Time Series: Lamar leads 20-7
At Lamar: Lamar leads 8-4
At Abilene Christian: Lamar leads 11-3
At Neutral Site: Lamar leads 1-0
Coach Davis against Abilene Christian: 2-1
Coach Bonneau against Lamar: 2-10
 
Scheduled Starters:

Friday - RHP Tanner Driskill (3-3, 3.50 ERA) vs. RHP Brock Barger (2-4, 6.11 ERA)
Saturday - LHP Noah Sills (2-4, 4.06 ERA) vs. RHP Jon Nicholson (2-4, 5.00 ERA)
Sunday - LHP Jason Blanchard (0-4, 3.09 ERA) vs. TBA
 
Britt Bonneau is one of the longest-tenured coaches in the Southland Conference entering his 22nd season at the helm of ACU. He has a career record of 737-479-1, and guided the Wildcats from perennial NCAA Division II national title contention to the Division I ranks. This year Abilene Christian is 18-17 overall and 4-14 in the SLC with a potent offense that is second in the league in batting average (.305), hits (377), and scoring (6.8 runs per game), first in doubles (76) and sac bunts (36), and third in stolen bases per game (1.40). Their pitching staff has struggled somewhat with a 5.61 ERA (12th in the SLC) and a 1.98 strikeout-to-walk ratio (seventh in the SLC). The Wildcats come to Beaumont fresh off a 4-2, extra innings win at TCU on Tuesday.
 
Caleb Kyle (sixth, .351) and Matt Munoz (ninth, .349) are two of the best hitters league-wide, and Dalon Farkas leads the SLC in doubles (14) with teammates Robert Salazar and Derek Scott tied for third with 12 apiece. Kyle is also third in on-base percentage at .467. Colton Eager ranks as the second-hardest batter to strikeout in the conference with just one strikeout every 10.4 at-bats.
 
News and Notes on Lamar
 
SECREST HEATING UP
 
Cole Secrest is starting to make the leap. The freshman started his career with a .636 mark (7-of-11) and eight RBI in the first three games he played, then his numbers dropped as teams started scouting him. Last week Secrest has returned to his power-hitting ways; he hit .667 last week (12-of-16) with six RBIs and three runs scored. He struck out only twice in that time period.
 
FRESHMEN FORCED INTO SIGNIFICANT ROLES
 
So far this season Lamar's freshmen batters have started 93 times in the lineup for Lamar, 73 more starts than opposing teams' freshmen have against the Cardinals; LU has faced just 20 freshmen all year.