BEAUMONT, Texas — The 219th edition of the Battle of the Border kicks off this weekend as Lamar University hosts McNeese for a three‑game series.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Tab Tracy enters the weekend on an eight‑game hitting streak, going 12 for 33 (.364) during that span with six RBIs … He is tied for the team lead in batting average (.333) and ranks second in both hits (22) and RBIs (11) … Beau Durbin also owns a .333 average and leads the team with 24 hits and a .500 slugging percentage … Durbin enters the weekend tied for seventh in the Southland Conference in hits, tied for eighth in doubles (5) and tied for second in triples (2).

GETTING ON BASE: A.J. Taylor and Braden Benton share the team lead in on-base percentage at .423 … Taylor also paces the Cardinals in OPS, posting a .915 mark … Benton ranks third in the Southland Conference with 15 walks … Kevin Duran is riding a six‑game on-base streak, collecting six hits during that span, including a home run and three RBIs.

WAKING UP THE BATS: The Cardinals are tied for third in the Southland Conference with 32 doubles … Brayden Evans ranks eighth in the league with five doubles … Over his last two games, Evans has gone 4 for 9 (.444) with two doubles, a home run and two RBIs.

COMBINED ONE-HITTER: The LU pitching staff recorded its second combined one-hitter of the season in the shutout of Louisiana Tech … It marks the first time since 2013 that the staff has posted two combined one-hitters in a single season.

AMONG THE BEST: Chris Olivier, a two-time conference player of the week, ranks among the Southland leaders in four major categories … He stands third in ERA (1.09), first in opposing batting average (.151), third in innings pitched (24.2) and second in strikeouts (32).

UNBLEMISHED: Jarret Williams has thrown 12.2 scoreless innings across four appearances, including three starts … He ranks second on the staff with 12 strikeouts while carrying a 0.00 ERA.

PITCHING HIGHLIGHTS: Nathan Darden continues to lead the Southland Conference with three saves … A.J. Kostic is tied for second in the league with three wins … As a staff, LU ranks fifth in the conference in innings pitched (147.2) and is tied for first in saves (4).

MIDWEEK SUCCESS: The Cardinals are 90-75 in midweek games since 2010, including a 15-6 mark since 2025 … LU is now 6-0 against Conference USA programs since 2024.

HOME SWEET HOME: LU has gone 57-8 at home since 2024, including a 27-2 record in 2025.
 

• Stephen F. Austin (11-7, 4-2)
• Lamar (10-7, 4-2)
• Houston Christian (8-8, 4-2)
• Southeastern Louisiana (9-8, 2-1)
• Nicholls (11-8, 3-2)
• Northwestern State (10-7, 3-3)
• McNeese (8-8, 3-3)
• Incarnate Word (9-8, 2-4)
• New Orleans (8-9, 2-4)
• UT Rio Grande Valley (7-10, 2-4)
• A&M-Corpus Christi (10-7, 0-2)

LU vs. MCNEESE: LU holds a 121-95-2 all‑time advantage over McNeese since the series began in 1954 … The Cardinals have won four of the last eight meetings … McNeese took last year's series, winning two of three games, with two of those decided by a single run. CATCHING UP: The Cowboys had won five of their previous six games — including an upset of No. 13 LSU — before dropping their series to Houston Christian, two games to three … McNeese returns 20 players from last year's team that finished 32-17 overall and 19-11 in Southland play … The Cowboys also added 21 newcomers to the roster.

WHO TO WATCH: Junior infielder Hayden Stringfellow enters the weekend riding an 11‑game on‑base streak … He leads the team with 22 hits and a .367 batting average … Senior infielder Danny Barbero paces the squad with 17 RBIs … Senior righthander Eric Nachtsheim owns a team‑best 1.17 ERA and 39 strikeouts, posting a 3-0 record across five appearances and two starts.