BEAUMONT, Texas — The first official pitch has yet to be thrown, and the Lamar baseball program is already receiving national attention.

Just 15 days remain until the Cardinals open the season against Oakland University on Friday, Feb. 13, at Vincent‑Beck Stadium.

The Cardinals were predicted to be one of eight College World Series sleeper teams by Baseball America.

According to the article, LU joins Alabama, Dallas Baptist, Kansas, Mercer, Oregon, UC Santa Barbara and UTSA.

Under head coach Will Davis, who enters his 10th season, LU posted a 40-17 record last spring to string back-to-back 40-win seasons for the first time since 2003-2004.

This season the Cardinals play four top 25 programs, the most since 2016, which includes games at No. 3 Texas, No. 10 TCU and No. 25 Texas A&M.

LU hosts No. 12 Oregon State for a three-game series April 2-4.

In addition to hosting Oregon State, the Cardinals are also welcoming Big 12 programs Kansas and BYU.

The full article can be read here.