BEAUMONT, Texas - Looking to return to postseason play after narrowly missing the conference tournament in 2018, Lamar University begins its 2019 campaign in earnest on Friday with the start of Southland Conference play. The Cardinals (6-6, 0-0 SLC) will host Stephen F. Austin (5-8, 0-0 SLC) for a three-game SLC series starting at 6 p.m. on Friday.

Friday
-Jr. Cardinals get in FREE with membership badge
-$1 Hotdogs + $2 Popcorn tubs all season long

Saturday
-Jr. Cardinals get in FREE with membership badge
-$1 Hotdogs + $2 Popcorn tubs all season long

Sunday
-Jr. Cardinals get in FREE with membership badge
-$1 Hotdogs + $2 Popcorn tubs all season long
-12 year olds and under get in FREE
-5Point Credit Union Post Game Run the Bases
-Inflatables for the kids

THE LAST TIME OUT - HOUSTON BAPTIST
Tied at 3-3 from the bottom of the fifth until the top of the 13th, Lamar University came out on top Tuesday in a four-hour, 13-inning game at Houston Baptist University (4-8). The Cards used four hits and a sac fly in the top of the 13th inning to win 6-3 over the Huskies.

Stephen F. Austin

Starters:
Friday: LHP Jason Blanchard (2-1, 1.00 ERA) vs. RHP Alex Palmer (0-1, 5.19 ERA)
Saturday: LHP Noah Sills (0-1, 3.78 ERA) vs. LHP Jaxon Covington (1-0, 1.00 ERA)
Sunday: LHP Taylor Rich (0-0, 1.00 ERA) vs. TBA

Series Record
All-Time Series: Lamar leads 66-20
At Vincent-Beck Stadium: Lamar leads 40-6
At Jaycees Field: Lamar leads 26-12
At Neutral Site: SFA leads 2-0
Will Davis vs. SFA: 4-2
Cardenas vs. Lamar: 13-19
Last Meeting: May 12, 2018 (7-3 at SFA)

The Lumberjacks are 5-8 this season with after wins over Arkansas State, Wichita State, UT Arlington, and Portland. SFA also took Texas A&M to the wire but struggled recently in a game at TCU. Johnny Cardenas is in his 11th season as the head coach of SFA with a 266-309 record and a 147-159 mark in SLC play.

The Jacks are averaging 4.6 runs per game (10th in the SLC) with a 6.35 ERA (12th in the SLC). They rank eighth in strikeouts per nine innings with 8.1 and in hits with 100 this year.

Sean Moore is fifth in the SLC with a .378 batting average and eighth in RBIs per game with 1.10. He's also the toughest to strike out in the Southland with one strikeout every 37.0 at-bats. Brandon Uhse has seen the most action at the plate with 51 at-bats and a .294 batting average and paces the team with 15 hits, 10 runs scored, and three doubles.

Friday's starter Alex Palmer has an 0-1 record and a 5.19 ERA through 17.1 innings pitched. He's struck out 25 batters while walking just six but has allowed 16 hits and 10 earned runs. Saturday's starter is Jaxon Covington who has a 1.00 ERA and a 1-0 record through 9.0 innings. He has seven hits to seven strikeouts with four runs - just one of them earned. Sunday's starter has not yet been announced.

Lamar Quick Hits

• Lamar's offense has been considerably stronger this year than at this point in the 2018 season. LU is 6-6 so far this season as compared to just 4-10 last year and holds a .251 batting average compared to a .207 in 2018. It took LU 55 games to reach 12 home runs in 2018 and Lamar already has 11 homers this year.
• Avery George continues to earn his role at the top of the lineup. The sophomore from Humble, Texas, has an 11-game hit streak and a 22-game reached base streak and is hitting .378 with 17 hits, three RBIs, and 10 runs while striking out just six times.
• Robin Adames has 211 career hits which puts him just five away from passing Joe McCann (1976-79) for ninth all-time in LU history. He needs 46 more to overtake Jordan Foster (2001-04) for the LU career record.