BEAUMONT, Texas – It's probably fitting that two former Southland Conference rivals will face off in their new conference's opener Saturday when Lamar University steps on the field at Jaycees Field against Stephen F. Austin. The series, which was originally slated to open Friday, was pushed back to Saturday due to forecasted weather in Nacogdoches.
 
The Cardinals (8-5) enter the weekend series having won four of their previous five games and taken all of their first three series – with one series sweep (a four-game series against Mount St. Mary's). The lone hiccup for LU during the last five games was a midweek contest in Houston against a Houston Baptist squad who was riding the wave of winning three of four against No. 23 Sacramento State (who was coming off a sweep of No. 6 Long Beach State).
 
SFA enters the weekend two games under .500 on the season after dropping two of three at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Lumberjacks have split their last six contests, which included wins over UT Arlington, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the first game against A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
The series between the two schools has been one that primarily favors the Red and White. In 95 all-time meetings, the Cardinals hold a 69-26 (.726) all-time record, which includes a 26-15 (.634) mark in Nacogdoches. The series dates back to the 1979 season, but SFA dropped its program following the 1993 campaign and it didn't return until 2006.
 
The Lumberjacks won seven straight, and eight of nine from LU between 2018 – 20, but Big Red restored order in the series last season by taking all three games behind strong pitching. The Cardinals allowed just four runs in the three games.
 
Saturday marks the second doubleheader for both teams this season. The Cardinals swept their doubleheader against Mount St. Mary's, while SFA recorded a split against UT Arlington. For LU playing doubleheaders in consecutive weekends is nothing new, as each conference series last season was a Saturday doubleheader due to COVID.
 
First pitch for Game 1 Saturday is slated for noon from Jaycees Field, with the second game slated to begin 45 after the conclusion of the first. Friday's game is slated to be televised on ESPN+.