SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE SHOWDOWN SET FOR CORPUS CHRISTI

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Interstat) — The Lamar Cardinals visit the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders on Saturday in the second game of a Southland Conference series.

First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon at Chapman Field. The teams opened the series Friday night.

Lamar (12-9) holds a two-game edge over the Islanders (10-11) in the overall standings. The Cardinals are looking to bounce back after a 7-4 midweek loss to Sam Houston State. The Islanders aim to halt a four-game skid, most recently dropping a weekend series at Northwestern State.

A key bullpen arm for Lamar will be right-hander Gage Burdick. In his last outing Tuesday, he provided 2 1/3 innings of relief, allowing one earned run on two hits with two strikeouts. Over his last three appearances, however, he has been charged with six earned runs in four innings.

For the Islanders, right-hander Bryson Shea is a pitcher to watch. He delivered his best performance of the season last Sunday, tossing 4 2/3 hitless innings with four strikeouts at Northwestern State, though he was tagged with two earned runs. His season has been inconsistent, highlighted by a four-inning, two-hit shutout stint against Pittsburgh on Feb. 22 but marred by rough outings against Nicholls State and Texas Southern.

Lamar arrives having won five of its last seven games, including a series victory over McNeese State last weekend. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has lost seven of its last nine, but secured a narrow midweek series over Texas Southern.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Lamar is projected to win 5-2.

Following Saturday’s contest, the series concludes Sunday afternoon. Lamar then hosts Tarleton State on Tuesday. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi travels to face UTSA on Tuesday.