BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University captured its first Southland Conference tournament title since 2010, defeating rival McNeese, 2-1, on Friday night at Vincent-Beck Stadium to complete a sweep of the best-of-three series.
The Cardinals captured their sixth conference tournament title and fourth Southland Conference tournament championship.
LU's previous Southland tournament titles came in 2002 and 2004.
This marks the second time the Cardinals have won the Southland Conference tournament title while hosting, with the previous instance coming in 2002.
Behind strong pitching and timely hitting, the Cardinals secured the championship and will learn their NCAA postseason destination during the Division I Selection Show on Monday, May 25 at 11 a.m.
Lamar will host a public watch party at the Dauphin Complex in the team meeting room.
The Cardinals opened the scoring in the second on
A.J. Taylor's RBI single up the middle, bringing in
Hector Rodriguez after his leadoff single to left center.
McNeese tied the game in the fifth when Isaiah Keller led off with a double to left center, and Marcus Heusohn followed with an RBI infield single.
LU regained the lead in the sixth on
Jake Wagoner's RBI single through the left side, scoring Rodriguez after another leadoff single.
Chris Olivier retired the final 11 batters to secure the win while
Julius Carpio threw one shutout inning to notch the save.
Olivier becomes the third LU pitcher since 2010 to record 100 or more strikeouts in a season, joining Brooks Caple (2024) and Jonathan Dziedzic (2010, 2013).
RECORDS: LU (34-25); McNeese (31-26)
GAME NOTES
- Wagoner finished 2 for 4 with two singles and an RBI. He went 13 for 24 (.542) in his last six games with three RBIs.
- Rodriguez went 2 for 4 with two singles and two runs scored. Rodriguez went 9 for 17 (.529) in his last four games with four RBIs.
- Taylor had two singles to go 2 for 4 with an RBI. Taylor has nine hits and three RBIs in his last five games.
- Tab Tracy finished 1 for 4 with a single to extend his hitting streak to seven games. He has 10 hits and five RBIs during that span.
- Beau Durbin went 1 for 4 with a double. Durbin now has 20 doubles this season, tying him for the eighth-most doubles in a single season in program history.
- Balin Valentine finished 1 for 3 with a single. He has eight hits and four RBIs in his last six games.
- Olivier improves to 7-4 after tossing eight innings with seven strikeouts.
- Carpio earned his fifth save of the season. Carpio allowed two hits in one inning of relief with two strikeouts.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Chris Olivier (Most Valuable Player), Lamar
Jake Wagoner, Lamar
Cooper Carlgren, Lamar
Hector Rodriguez, Lamar
A.J. Taylor, Lamar
Beau Durbin, Lamar
Balin Valentine, Lamar
Travis Lutz, Lamar
Connor Cuff, Southeastern Louisiana
Marcus Heusohn, McNeese
Eric Nachtsheim, McNeese
Isaiah Keller, McNeese
#PeckEmCards
