CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Preseason honors continued to pour in for Lamar University's baseball team Wednesday with the release of the 2019 Perfect Game Southland Conference Preview. The organization named Robin Adames and Ryan Erickson to their Preseason All-SLC team and tabbed Jason Blanchard and Dylan Johnson as top pro prospects.
 
"As always we're very happy for our student-athletes to receive the national recognition we know they deserve," said head coach Will Davis. "Robin, Ryan, and Jason all had terrific seasons last year and Dylan has a very bright future ahead of him here at Lamar. We're excited to see what each of them will bring the Cardinals in 2019."
 
Adames, transitioning from first to third base this season, was named to the Perfect Game Preseason All-SLC team as the third baseman. As highlighted in Tuesday's infielder preview, Adames had a great 2018 hitting .298 for the year in 2018, second on the team, and led the team in hits (62), RBIs (33), runs scored (27), doubles (12), home runs (5), total bases (89), hits-by-pitch (12), plate appearances (241), at-bats (208), games started (55), fielding chances (425), and putouts (389).
 
Erickson looks to carry over a stellar 2018 to this year as well. The Golden Triangle native recorded one of the best ERAs in the conference and a team-leading 60 strikeouts. The senior righty had an incredible April - putting up a 0.90 ERA through 20 innings with 28 strikeouts to just 10 hits and four walks. He had a 0.143 opposing batting average, two saves, and a win that month. Erickson is second among all returning pitchers in the NCAA in leadoff out percentage - getting an out 86.84 percent of the time.
 
As mentioned in the pitchers preview story from Jan. 24, Blanchard comes into 2019 as a key member of the 2019 starting rotation after starting in 12 of his 13 appearances with LU last year. He ranked second on the team in ERA among qualifying pitchers (3.49) and in starts (12), and he allowed just 20 walks with a .269 opposing batting average. He worked through 59.1 innings with 50 strikeouts.
 
Also highlighted in the preview of LU's arms was Johnson who comes to Lamar from Splendora High School in Splendora, Texas. He was a four-year letterman in baseball and three years in basketball in high school, and steadily improved in each of his seasons on the mound – turning a 2015 Second Team All-District nod as a rookie into leading the state of Texas in strikeouts his senior year. He worked a career 2.32 ERA through 136 innings of work with 248 strikeouts while walking just 99 with 45 earned runs.
 
Though the official opening of the 2019 season won't be here until Feb. 15 against LIU Brooklyn, Cardinal fans have a great opportunity to come see the team in action in just a few days. The inaugural baseball and softball fan day will take place this Saturday, Feb. 2, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Vincent-Beck Stadium where fans will get to see a scrimmage of the baseball team, see the new turf field up close, and interact with the baseball and softball student-athletes. The event is free and open to the public.