BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University is set to return to the diamond Wednesday when it hosts Stephen F. Austin in a midweek contest at Vincent-Beck Stadium. The game, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday evening, was moved to Wednesday (at noon) due to expected inclement weather in the Beaumont area.
 
Wednesday's game will mark the third time this season the two former conference rivals have met on the diamond, with all three coming in different venues. The two met at a neutral site during the second week of the season and Lamar traveled to Nacogdoches on March 6^th. The Cardinals have won the two previous games by a combined 16-4 score (including one shutout).
 
Since the first meeting, the two programs have gone in different directions. The Lumberjacks are 5-27 (.156) overall having dropped  22 of their last 24 (since the last time two schools met), but they have split their last four games which includes a one-run victories over Tarleton State and Abilene Christian.
 
In that same time, Lamar rattled off a 13-game win streak which was the nation's longest until it was snapped in a midweek contest at Houston. The Cardinals responded to that setback by traveling to Norman, Okla., and sweeping the 25^th-ranked Sooners. The Southland Conference leaders have now won 19 of their last 21 games, a stretch that included an 11-inning, combined no-hitter against McNeese over the weekend.
 
The Cardinals enter the midweek showdown with one of the top pitching staffs in the country. Big Red leads the Southland and is sixth nationally in earned run average (3.47), while holding opponents to a Southland-best .211 batting average. Lamar has also struck out 255 batters on the season.
 
Offensively, the Cardinals are hitting .276 with 29 home runs and 171 RBIs, while drawing 155 walks. The Cardinals have also recorded steals on nearly 88 percent of their attempts.
 
SFA his hitting .246 on the year with 29 home runs and 123 RBIs. The Lumberjacks have struck out 319 times compared to just 105 walks. Cole Hill leads the Lumberjacks' offense with a .331 average, five home runs and 16 RBIs. The Lumberjacks pitching staff has struggled at times this season to the tune of a 9.16 ERA. Opponents are hitting .324 against SFA in 2024.
 
Wednesday's game is slated for a 12:05 p.m. first pitch from Vincent-Beck Stadium and will be streamed live on ESPN+.