BEAUMONT, Texas — The Lamar University baseball team made huge strides last year, earning 37 victories and winning their first postseason game since 2013. Now it's time for the Cardinals build consistency and take that next step as a program.
Last season Coach Will Davis saw his team win twelve more games than they did in 2021.
"Whenever you have a couple good years in a row you can start to set your sights on a little bit higher goal, which the NCAA Tournament is our goal. We want to get there. I think our guys have a lot of confidence coming off of last year, that we can accomplish that."
Preseason All-Southland infielder Josh Blankenship says the once proud program is back.
"Just building back the culture that it once was. Lamar baseball has always been very well-rounded, it's always been a good program. So I feel that Davis has done a good job of bringing the energy and the excitement back to Lamar baseball."
Lamar's upward trend has led the Cardinals to be picked third in the Southland preseason poll.
Senior pitcher Daniel Cole says higher expectations have helped the redbirds.
"The expectations that are put on us really made us come in with a mentality to come in and work and compete. With all the guys that we've brought in, it makes the competition level really high. Myself I feel like I've been around, this is my third year in the program. So I'm excited to see where we got and how we continue to build this program and make a named for ourselves in southeast texas and continue to make a great named for lamar baseball."
While the expectations are there, the veterans of the team like Kirkland Banks say they can't get caught up in the hype as they head into the opening weekend.
"Just playing, staying within ourselves as we got. Don't let the hype get to us. I know it's going to be a big crowd there, so just staying within ourself. Having each and every day, keep working to that goal."
Oakland Golden Grizzlies (0-0) at Lamar Cardinals (0-0)
Vincent-Beck Stadium
Friday 6:00 pm
Saturday 1:00 pm
Sunday 2:00 pm