BEAUMONT, Texas – Despite the fact the calendar just flipped to April, the Lamar University Cardinals (17-10/3-3 Southland) are beginning a very key stretch of their schedule. When the Cardinals step on the field Tuesday evening at Clay Gould Ball Park it will open a nine-game road swing that will have the Cards facing UTA, Northwestern State, Rice, UIW and TCU before returning home.
 
The early series of the Southland Conference season have already taught this year's chase to the title is going to be a dogfight to the finish. Nicholls and UIW are currently tied for first in the standings just a game up on the Cardinals. The entire league is separated by just 1.5 games.
 
After winning three of four, the Cardinals are coming off a tough stretch dropping three of their last four outings – including a 19-inning affair to Nicholls Friday.
 
UT Arlington is in its first season with the Western Athletic Conference. The Mavericks have posted a 13-16 overall record (4-5 in league play) but have run into some struggles lately. After four consecutive victories – including wins over Northwestern and Houston – UTA has since dropped four of its last five.
 
UTA is hitting .281 with 65 doubles, 32 home runs and 170 runs batted in on the season. As a team, the Mavericks have posted a .451 slugging percentage and a .384 on-base percentage. On the mound, UTA's pitchers have posted a 7.12 earned run average with 222 strikeouts to 117 walks.
 
The Cardinals enter the week batting .254 on the year with 49 doubles, 22 home runs and 134 runs batted in. Lamar has also posted a .360 on-base percentage. On the mound, the Cardinals have recorded a 3.79 ERA with 241 strikeouts to just 104 walks.


Former Southland Conference rivals, the series (which dates back to the 1969 season) swings in favor of the Cardinals. LU is 79-41 (.658) all-time against UT Arlington and was 32 games over .500 in the series in conference match ups. UTA has favored better in the series at home but the Cardinals still have the upper hand, 30-16 (.652).
 
Tuesday's game will be televised on the WAC Digital International Network with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.