BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University steps away from Southland Conference play this week to travel to Houston for a midweek matchup at Rice on Tuesday.

The Cardinals enter the week tied atop the conference standings with Southeastern Louisiana.

LU will host Southeastern this weekend in the final home series of the regular season.
KEEPING TABS ON TAB: Tab Tracy leads the offense with a .349 average, 60 hits, .446 on-base percentage, 19 stolen bases and 17 multi-hit games … Tracy is also tied for second with 25 RBIs … He finished the weekend in New Orleans 6 for 12 (.500) with a double and three RBIs to extend his on-base streak to seven games.

BIG WEEKEND: A.J. Taylor went 8 for 14 (.571) in the series against New Orleans with three doubles, two home runs and six RBIs … He recorded the first five-hit performance by a Cardinal since Zak Skinner in 2024 … Taylor leads the offense with five home runs, 35 runs scored and a .450 slugging percentage … He was recently ranked as the third-best shortstop nationally based on defensive runs saved, according to 6-4-3 Charts.

OFFENSIVE RESURGENCE: Theo Kummer had a solid weekend going 5 for 11 (.455) with a double, two home runs and five RBIs … The last time the Cardinals recorded 40 or more hits in a three‑game series was in May 2024 on the road at New Orleans … The 20-1 victory in Game 3 marked the fourth time since 2024 that the LU offense has scored 20 or more runs in a game.

OFFENSIVE LEADER: Beau Durbin leads the way with 180 at-bats, 11 doubles, 31 RBIs and eight multi-RBI games … Durbin is riding an 11-game hitting streak and 12-game on-base streak … Durbin has 12 hits including four doubles and nine RBIs during the 11-game stretch.

PITCHING HIGHLIGHTS: Travis Lutz ranks third on the team with 42 strikeouts … Lutz has 21 strikeouts in his last three games … Fabian Ramirez leads staff with a 1.20 ERA … Ramirez has only allowed two earned runs in 13 appearances and 15 innings pitched.

EXTRA INNINGS: The Cardinals have played in eight extra‑inning games this season, posting a 5-3 record … Six of the seven contests went 10 innings … LU has recorded three walk-off wins this season … LU has recorded two 10‑run rule wins, both coming in Game 3 road contests at Nicholls and New Orleans.

HOME RUNS: LU has hit 29 home runs this season, with 19 coming on the road … LU has seven home runs at home for the season.

MIDWEEKS: After going 13-3 in midweek contests in 2025, the Cardinals are 4-7 in midweek play this season with one game remaining on the road against Sam Houston … LU's 4-1 win over now No. 16 Kansas marked the program's first victory against a Big 12 opponent since 2023.
    LU vs. Rice: Rice won the first meeting in Beaumont, 4-1 … The Owls hold an 88-53 advantage in the all‑time series dating back to the first meeting in 1952 … LU, however, has won the last two meetings in Houston, outscoring Rice 19-11.
CATCHING UP: Rice enters the week with a 25-20 overall record and an 8-10 mark in American play … The Owls dropped two of three games at Wichita State this past weekend and are 4-6 over their last 10 games.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sophomore infielder Cole Green leads the offense with 51 hits while junior infielder J.C. Davis carries a team‑high .328 average … Senior first baseman/catcher Paul Smith leads the team with nine home runs and 36 RBIs … The pitching staff owns a 4.67 ERA with 309 strikeouts.