BEAUMONT, Texas – Sandwiched between two four-game road swings, Lamar University returns to the friendly confines of Vincent-Beck Stadium Tuesday for the first of three mid-week, non-conference games against Northwestern State this season. The Cardinals and Demons will play each other for the 114th time.

The Last Time Out – Incarnate Word

Lamar got off to a good start Friday in the first of a three-game series at Incarnate Word, putting nine runs across while allowing just one earned run in a 9-3 victory. Big Red struggled against the "other" Cardinals Saturday and Sunday.

Lamar vs. Northwestern State

Series Record

All-Time Series: Lamar leads 63-50
At Lamar: Lamar leads 33-27
At Northwestern State: Lamar leads 26-21
At Neutral Site: Lamar leads 4-2
Coach Davis against Northwestern State: Tied 1-1
Coach Barbier against Lamar: Tied 1-1
Scheduled Starters:

RHP Jace Campbell (0-3, 3.60 ERA) vs. RHP Jerry Maddox (1-2, 3.57 ERA)

Northwestern State is 12-11 this year and 3-3 in Southland play. The Demons are in their second year under Bobby Barbier. The 2006 NSU graduate has a 32-44 record overall and a 13-23 mark in league play.

The Demons have a formidable infield, leading the SLC and ranking sixth nationally in double plays turned with 27, averaging at least one double play per game. Their offense is scoring five runs a game while allowing 4.12 earned runs per outing. NSU ranks above the league average in doubles (fifth, 44), sac flies (fourth, nine), slugging percentage (seventh, .390), batting average (seventh, .275), and hits allowed per nine innings (fifth, 8.67).

David Fry leads his team in hits (35), doubles (11), batting average (.380), on-base percentage (.473), slugging percentage (.652), and is tied for the most homers by a Demon this year (four). He's currently tied for the program record in career doubles (59), ranks fifth in career total bases (343), and is tied for seventh in career RBIs (119). His 211 hits are seventh all-time.

Kelsey Richard holds a somewhat more painful distinction, leading the team in hit-by-pitch this year. He's been beaned nine times this season in 23 games, averaging one free base about every three games. That distinction has raised his OBP (.320), runs scored (15), and RBI totals (13) a bit higher than one would normally expect at a .193 average.

Jerry Maddox, the Tuesday starter for Northwestern State, has a 3.57 ERA this year in six appearances, including five starts. He's got a 1-2 record through 22.2 innings pitched, walking 14 and striking out 17.

News and Notes on Lamar

HAVE BATS, WILL TRAVEL
Lamar will spend a significant portion of the rest of the 2018 season away from the friendly confines of Vincent-Beck Stadium, with 20 road games to just 11 home games remaining this year. That follows a string of 17 home games in Big Red's first 21 games this year.

CARDS' SCHEDULE TOUGHEST IN SOUTHLAND
Lamar's strength of schedule ranks 44th in the country and first in the SLC according to the NCAA. Lamar's past opponents have a combined 291-208 record (.583), and the Cards' first two SLC opponents are currently first and second, respectively, in the league standings. Thankfully the schedule gets easier moving forward, with LU's opponents possessing a .460 winning percentage.

DEVORE DEMONSTRATING SENIOR CLASS ON AND OFF THE FIELD
Released earlier this week, Grant DeVore is one of just 30 student-athletes nation-wide to be named to the Senior CLASS award watch list, and the only nominee from the Southland Conference. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School^®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. 
 
The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four C's of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2018 College World Series^® in June.