BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University baseball returns to the diamond Friday to open a four-game homestand – and close out the home portion of the 2021 schedule – Friday against New Orleans. The weekend will also serve as the Senior Weekend series for LU as the Cardinals will be honoring 12 members of the program.
 
The Cardinals (19-19/11-17 Southland) enter the homestand looking to erase the bitter taste leftover from the series at Abilene Christian. Big Red dropped all four games at ACU last week falling from ninth to 12^th in the league standings. The Cardinals are just three games back of Nicholls with eight games remaining but due to the point system created for the 2021 season (because of COVID), the Cardinals are nine points back of eighth place (win – 3 pts., game not played – 1 pt. and a loss – 0 pts.).
 
Big Red has a tall task as league-leading New Orleans comes to Beaumont. Although the Privateers are thing in the standings according to their win-loss record (27-21/22-14 SLC), they lead the league based on the point system. After dropping three straight, the Privateers have become one of the league's hottest teams winning four of their past six games and are coming off a 4-3 victory against Central Arkansas.
 
The Privateers will send Haden Erbe (RHP, 1-4, 7.03 ERA) to the mound Friday followed by Chris Turpin (RHP, 8-2, 4.70 ERA) in Saturday's first game and Brandon Mitchell (LHP, 4-2, 4.84 ERA) in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. UNO is slated to pitch Beau Blanchard (RHP, 0-0, 5.40 ERA) in Sunday's series finale. The Cardinals will answer with Trevin Michael (RHP, 4-2, 3.86 ERA) in game one, Zach Bravo (RHP, 5-1, 3.51 ERA) in the first game Saturday followed by Braxton Douthit (RHP, 1-2, 3.00 ERA) in second game of the doubleheader. LU has not yet listed their starter for Sunday.
 
The all-time series is one that is slightly in favor of the Privateers. UNO holds a 56-48 (.538) lead in the series, but the Cardinals are two games over .500 all-time in games played in Beaumont. UNO has won six of the last 10 meetings but Big Red won the last matchup between the two – a 4-2 decision in New Orleans during the 2019 season (COVID cancelled the 2020 series).
 
The series will begin Friday with a 6 p.m. first pitch from Vincent-Beck Stadium. Saturday's doubleheader is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch with the recognition of the seniors scheduled to take place between games. The series will wrap up with a 1 p.m. first pitch Sunday. All four games will be streamed live on LamarCardinals.com.