BEAUMONT, Texas – After going 4-2 on their recent six-game road swing (which was originally scheduled as a seven-game stint), the Lamar University baseball team (22-14) returns home to open a five-game homestand Wednesday against Houston Baptist.
 
In addition to hosting the Huskies, the Cardinals will face Stephen F. Austin for three games beginning Friday.
 
The Cardinals took four wins on their recent road swing which included victories over Pacific (13-2) and at Oklahoma (14-11). Big Red has won six of its previous eight games but is coming off a close setback at Baylor. Even in the 5-1 setback to the Bears, LU had its opportunities with the bases loaded in the second and fifth innings but was unable to come up with the key hit. The Bears tacked on a run late in the game for the four-run margin (LU outhit Baylor in the contest).
 
The Huskies (13-23), who went through a stretch where they had dropped seven straight and 10 of 12 have bounced back and are playing some of their best baseball of the season. HBU has won four of its last six games, including two of three against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last week on the road. One of the top teams in the Southland Conference, the Huskies are currently in a three-way tie for the top spot in league play.
 
The Cardinals own the all-time series against HBU with a 32-22 (.593) all-time record, with the majority of those contests coming as Southland Conference opponents. That record includes a setback in Houston earlier this season. LU has won six of the last eight meetings and is 19-13 (.864) all-time against the Huskies in Beaumont.

LU will be hosting a special First Pitch before the game Wednesday. Giles Kibbe, Houston Astros Senior Vice President and General Counsel, President of the Astros Golf Foundation and 1990 LU graduate will be on hand Wednesday throwing out the first pitch.
 
Wednesday's game is set for a 6 p.m. first pitch from Vincent-Beck Stadium and will be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network.