BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University returns to action Friday when they travel south to open a three-game series against UT Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas. The Cardinals (14-7/5-1 WAC) are off to their best start since the 2013 season and enter the week second overall in the conference (just a game back of Grand Canyon), and alone in first of the WAC's Southwest Division by a game over Sam Houston State.
 
Winners in six of the previous eight games, the Cardinals head to Edinburg coming off a 7-2 midweek victory at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Cardinals have received lights out pitching from its starting rotation, and a bullpen that pitched 7.0 innings Wednesday allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out six.
 
The Cardinals enter the week with the league's second-best earned run average and ranks third in the conference in strike outs (187, with 53 of those looking). LU's staff also leads the WAC in pick offs.
 
Big Red's next opponent – UT Rio Grande Valley – eyes this weekend look to climb the ladder in the southwest division. The Vaqueros are currently fifth in the division standings, just a game back of Tarleton State and only three back of the Cardinals.
 
The Vaqueros (11-9/2-4 WAC) jumped out to a strong start in conference play taking two of three from Abilene Christian but have since fallen on hard times. UTRGV has dropped four straight, including a series against Tarleton State. The Vaqueros were originally scheduled to play Houston Baptist Tuesday but that game was cancelled due to weather.
 
The series against UT Rio Grande Valley (formerly UT Pan American) dates back to the 1967 season, and it is one that has been heavily in favor of the boys in Red. The Cardinals own a 72-48 (.600) record over the Vaqueros, but that record is 27-27 in Edinburg all-time (the Vaqueros are currently 9-2 at home this season). UTRGV has had some success in the series lately winning four of the previous six but the Cardinals are coming off a 5-3 victory during the last meeting in 2018. The two teams were slated to meet last season but the series was canceled due to COVID.
 
Friday's first pitch is slated for a 7 p.m. start from the UTRGV Baseball Stadium. The Cardinals are set to start Braxton Douthit (RHP, 3-0, 1.65 ERA) and he will be opposed by Kevin Stevens (RHP, 2-2, 2.01 ERA). Saturday's contest is slated for a 6 p.m. start followed by a noon first pitch on Sunday.