BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University enters this weekend's three-game road series at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi tied for first place atop the Southland Conference standings.
NATION'S BEST PITCHER: Chris Olivier improved to 3-0 after tossing a two‑hitter with 12 strikeouts over 7.2 innings in Game 2 against McNeese … He is tied for eighth nationally in Division I with 44 strikeouts, 10th with a 0.84 ERA and 13th with a 0.74 WHIP … Olivier has recorded double‑digit strikeouts in each of his three home starts, fanning 37 batters while allowing just three hits and no runs … In the Southland, Olivier ranks first in opposing batting average (.135), second in ERA, second in innings pitched (32.1), second in strikeouts and tied for second in wins.

EARNING RECOGNITION: Olivier has earned Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week honors three times this season (Feb. 16, March 2 and March 16) … He was also named Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Week (Feb. 17) and recognized nationally by D1Baseball.com, 64 Analytics and Baseball America.

UNBLEMISHED: Jarret Williams has thrown 18.2 consecutive scoreless innings across five appearances, including four starts … He owns a 0.00 ERA with 17 strikeouts.

PITCHING HIGHLIGHTS: The LU pitching staff has recorded two combined one-hitters this season vs. UT Rio Grande Valley and Louisiana Tech marking the first time since 2013 the staff has posted two combined one-hitters in a single season.

OFFENSIVE LEADER: Beau Durbin leads the team with a .344 average, 31 hits, seven doubles, two triples, 17 RBIs, a .900 OPS and a .500 slugging percentage … Durbin is tied for second in the Southland in triples, tied for third in doubles, tied for fourth in hits, fourth in at bats (90) and tied for ninth in runs scored (18) … Durbin has gone 8 for 23 (.348) with two doubles in his last five games … He also leads the team with eight multi-hit games after recording his third three-hit outing vs. Sam Houston.

KEEPING TABS ON TAB: Tab Tracy leads the team with seven stolen bases, tied for first in RBI and second with 27 hits … Tracy is tied for seventh in the conference and tied for 10th in at bats with 81 … He has gone 5 for 12 (.417) in his last three games with a double and six RBIs … Tracy became the first Cardinal this season to record five or more RBIs in a game, driving in five runs in Game 3 against McNeese … He is also the only Cardinal this season to record a four‑hit game, accomplishing the feat against Stephen F. Austin in Game 2 … Tracy has reached base safely in each of his last 12 games.

OFFENSIVE RESURGENCE: Hector Rodriguez is riding an eight-game hitting streak, going 11 for 26 (.423) during the stretch with two doubles and five RBIs.

GETTING ON BASE: A.J. Taylor ranks second on the team with 24 hits, an .855 OPS and a .453 slugging percentage … Braden Benton leads the team with 19 walks … Benton is tied for fourth in the conference in walks.

MIDWEEK SUCCESS: The Cardinals have seven midweek contests remaining … LU has gone 90-76 in midweek games since 2010, including a 15-7 mark since 2025.

• Northwestern State (13-7, 6-3)
• Lamar (12-9, 6-3)
• Southeastern Louisiana (12-9, 4-2)
• Houston Christian (11-9, 4-2)
• Stephen F. Austin (13-9, 5-4)
• UT Rio Grande Valley (10-11, 5-4)
• Incarnate Word (11-9, 4-4)
• McNeese (9-10, 4-5)
• Nicholls (11-12, 3-5)
• New Orleans (9-13, 2-6)
• A&M-Corpus Christi (10-10, 0-5)

LU vs. A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI: The Cardinals hold a 51-22 all-time advantage over the Islanders since the first meeting in 2001… LU went 3-1 against the Islanders last season, including a sweep of the regular-season series … The Cardinals haven't won a series in Corpus Christi since 2018.
CATCHING UP: The Islanders were swept by Northwestern State this past weekend, dropping seven of their last nine games. A&M-Corpus Christi holds a 10-10 overall record and is 0-5 in conference play.

WHO TO WATCH: Infielder and graduate student Cade Sanchez leads the offense with a .405 average, 30 hits, seven doubles and 17 RBIs … Sanchez carries an eight-game hitting streak and a 10-game on-base streak, going 12 for 31 (.387) over his last eight games with one double and six RBIs … Junior righthander Preston Watkins leads the pitching staff with 20 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched.