BEAUMONT, Texas – Riding the momentum of 23 wins in their last 25 outings, the Lamar University baseball team looks to keep its winning ways going Friday when they travel to Corpus Christi, Texas to open a three-game series against the Islanders.
 
Lamar (29-6/8-1 SLC) enters the weekend series ranked in the top 25 (College Baseball Nation, Perfect Game and Baseball America polls) for the first time since the 1990s after a three-game sweep of Southeastern Louisiana last weekend in Beaumont. LU outscored the Lions, 20-6, in the three games.
 
Off to their best overall start since 1979, the Cardinals lead the Southland with an 8-1 (.889) league record. Lamar sits two games up in the standings over New Orleans and 2.5 games lead over preseason favorite Nicholls.
 
The Islanders are looking to fight their way out of the bottom third of the conference standings. A&M-Corpus Christi enters the weekend with a 17-24 (.415) overall record and two games under .500 (5-7) in conference play. The Islanders are currently 4.5 games off the pace in the conference standings and have dropped four of their last five contests.
 
The Islanders were the unfortunate recipient of a hot-hitting Houston Christian squad who won two of three games over the Islanders in Corpus Christi. The Huskies outscored A&M-Corpus Christi, 35-16, in the series.
 
Lamar brings the Southland's best pitching staff, top fielding team and fourth-best offense to the island. The Cardinals lead the Southland with a 3.27 earned average and a .979 fielding percentage.
 
Lamar's pitching staff currently ranks among the nation's top five in ERA, WHIP, hits allowed per nine innings and is ranked among the top 10 in shutouts. The Cardinals also lead the league in saves (13) and opponent's batting average (.208).
 
Game one of the series is slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch while game two is set for a 2 p.m. start. The two schools will close out the series Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games will be played at Chapman Field and will be streamed on ESPN+.