Privateers Look to Keep Up Momentum at Lamar

UNO Notes | Lamar Notes

BEAUMONT, Texas – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (10-20, 2-10 Southland) looks to keep up the momentum off a banner mid-week victory when they start a three-game series against the Lamar Cardinals (18-15, 5-7) on Friday at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

The Privateers defeated #1 Louisiana-Lafayette 8-7 on Tuesday night while collecting 12 hits against the vaunted Cajuns. It was the first win for New Orleans over a ranked Division I opponent since April 27, 2010 when the Privateers defeated then #9 LSU 7-4. Privateers pitchers combined for double digit strikeouts for the first time in a game this season.

Jonathan Coco continues his solid contribution in the middle of the New Orleans lineup entering the weekend. Coco hit a two-run triple on Tuesday, his second three-bagger of the season. In his last 13 games, Coco is hitting .327 (17-52) and has five multi-hit efforts in that span.

Reese Kanter had his first four hit-night of his New Orleans career on Tuesday, and broke a 5-5 tie in the seventh with an RBI single. Kanter is hitting .310 while leading the Privateers in walks drawn (16) and doubles (7). Kanter has only struck out two times in his last 10 appearances (all starts).

The Privateers and Cardinals will meet for the first time since Mar. 5, 2006. The Cardinals took the last meeting 2-1 on the final day of the Lamar Tournament. Overall, New Orleans has a 49-37 advantage in the series and is 24-18 in Beaumont. The two teams met from 1991-98 as members of the Sun Belt.

Lamar is led by Sam Bumpers who enters on a 17-game hitting streak. Bumpers leads the team with a .336 batting average and has also driven in 16 runs. In a game against McNeese State on Mar. 28, Bumpers had a career day going 7-for-7 at the plate with five RBIs. Bumpers is also a perfect 7-for-7 in steals to attempts.

The Cardinals enter play after a 5-0 mid-week loss to LSU on Wednesday. It was the third time this season Lamar has been blanked in a game. Last weekend, Lamar overcame a 2-7 conference start by sweeping Abilene Christian. The Cardinals are 13-10 in home games this season.

First pitch for Friday is set for 6:30 p.m. Alex Smith (1-4, 3.65 ERA) takes the ball for the Privateers while Will Hibbs (3-1, 2.74) is slated to throw for Lamar.