BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University baseball team recorded a program first Wednesday morning, but it didn't come on the field. Not to be outdone by their work on the diamond the 2022 Cardinals became the first team in program history to receive the ABCA Academic Excellence Award.
 
The 2022 campaign was LU's best since 2013, highlighted by 37 wins, 10 season series wins, four series sweeps and advancing to the winners' bracket of the conference tournament. Big Red ended the year just a game back of a WAC Division title, with numerous players being named to the all-conference teams and two ABCA All-Region selections.
 
Big Red was just as impressive in the classroom earning, and maintaining, at least a 3.0 grade-point average for the entire academic year.
 
"It was a great year on the field and in the classroom, and I think it just speaks to the kind of kids that we have in the program," said LU head coach Will Davis. "They take care of business on and off the field. I think our academic advisors Helene Thill and Holly Badon did a great job in giving our guys the resources needed to succeed."
 
The ABCA Team Excellence Award recognized nearly 700 high school and college programs at all levels of the sport for their work in the classroom. To be nominated teams were required to secure and maintain a 3.0 GPA for the entire academic year.
 
The American Baseball Coaches Association has a long tradition of recognizing the achievements of baseball coaches and student-athletes. The ABCA/Rawlings All-America teams are the nation's oldest, founded in 1949, and the ABCA's awards program also includes the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Awards, the ABCA/ATEC Regional and National Coaches of the Year and several major awards such as the ABCA Hall of Fame and the Dave Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award.