BEAUMONT, Texas – Returning to the friendly confines of Vincent-Beck Stadium for its first home weekend series in three weeks, Lamar University (6-23, 2-10 SLC) will host the University of New Orleans (14-15, 5-7 SLC) this weekend in Southland Conference action. First pitch between the Cards and Privateers is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, but weather could force some rescheduling. The two teams are playing for the 99th, 100th, and 101st time.

The Last Time Out – Baylor
In an incredibly tight pitchers' duel in Waco on Tuesday, Lamar held a 1-0 lead through five and two-thirds innings before a few small mistakes allowed Baylor (14-13) to put two unearned runs across in the sixth. The two teams would collect just two more combined hits the rest of the game, and the Bears escaped with a 2-1 win.

Lamar vs. New Orleans

Series Record

All-Time Series: New Orleans leads 51-47
At Lamar: Lamar 25-22
At New Orleans: New Orleans leads 26-20
At Neutral Site: New Orleans leads 3-2
Coach Davis against New Orleans: New Orleans leads 2-1
Coach Dean against Lamar: Lamar leads 4-2

Scheduled Starters:
Friday: RHP Tanner Driskill (1-3, 4.13 ERA) vs. LHP Bryan Warzek (2-0, 2.44 ERA)
Saturday: LHP Noah Sills (2-3, 4.03 ERA) vs. TBA
Sunday: LHP Jason Blanchard (0-4, 4.22 ERA) vs. TBA

In its third year under skipper Blake Dean, New Orleans is 14-15 overall this year and 5-7 in Southland play. The Privateers have been extremely streaky this season, losing six of seven before their current five-game win streak that includes a 3-2 victory at Tulane on April 3 on a wild pitch.

UNO is one of the best teams in the league at the plate, ranking third in total hits (280), second in doubles (54) and triples (23), and sixth in home runs (19), but the Privateers' batting average ranks just eighth in the SLC at .269. New Orleans' pitching staff also is a tale of two teams, leading the league in strikeouts per nine innings (10.2) but ranking ninth in ERA (4.87).

Bryan Warzek, Friday's starter, is one of the best pitchers in the league. He ranks fourth in ERA (2.44), second in hits allowed per nine innings (6.29), sixth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.73), first in total strikeouts (71), and fourth in WHIP (1.04).

Owen Magee is the team's leading hitter with 41 hits on the year and a .336 batting average. He's scored 16 runs and drove in 20 on eight doubles and four homers. Beau Bratton (.321, 20 RBI) and Darren Willis (.316, 13 RBI) are also hitting above .300.

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 16 road games to just 10 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 70th in the country and first in the SLC according to the NCAA. Lamar's past opponents have a combined 386-304 record (.559), 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 .442 winning percentage.

COKER LOVES MARCH
Cole Coker was on a tear since the calendar flipped from February to March. In 18 games he accounted for 20.3 percent of Lamar's total hits (26 of 128), hitting .366 with four walks and five strikeouts. His slugging percentage was .408, and he also had a .408 OBP. The sophomore had nine RBI in March and was riding an eight-game hit streak.

NOTHING LIKE HOME SWEET HOME
Vincent-Beck Stadium has been the home of the Cards since 1969 and the site of 1,403 Big Red games. LU Holds an impressive mark of 920-477-6 all time at The Beck.