BASEBALL PREVIEW: Northwestern State at Lamar

BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — The Lamar Cardinals host the Northwestern State Demons in a Saturday afternoon baseball doubleheader at Vincent-Beck Stadium, with the first game scheduled for 2 p.m. and the nightcap to follow.

Lamar (29-25) enters the day having won three straight meetings against Northwestern State (26-25) this season, including a 4-3, 15-inning victory on April 19 and a 5-0 shutout two days earlier. The Cardinals have been strong at home, and their pitching staff has held the Demons to three runs or fewer in each of the three recent head-to-head games.

Northwestern State comes in after a 6-4 loss Friday to Stephen F. Austin. Right-hander Caleb Muffoletto tossed three scoreless innings of relief in that game, striking out two without allowing a hit. But Muffoletto has been inconsistent of late — he allowed two earned runs in one-third of an inning on May 8 against McNeese State, and gave up two earned runs in 1 2/3 innings at Arkansas on April 29. Over his past five appearances, he has a 5.06 ERA across 10 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts.

The Demons’ offense has struggled in recent series, scoring two runs or fewer in four of their past five games. Outfielder Joe Siervo homered and drove in two runs Friday, and right-hander Caden Fiveash worked 2 1/3 innings of one-run relief. Northwestern State has lost six of its last eight overall.

Lamar counters with right-hander Chris Olivier, who has been the Cardinals’ most reliable arm. In his most recent start Friday against Texas-Rio Grande Valley, Olivier threw six innings, allowing three hits and one earned run with four strikeouts in a 3-2 victory. Over his past two outings — both wins — he has allowed two earned runs in nine innings while striking out six. Earlier this season, he struck out five in six innings against Southeastern Louisiana on May 2, though he took the loss.

Olivier’s command has been sharp: in his last three starts, he has walked just two batters over 15 innings. His April 24 outing at New Orleans was an outlier — eight earned runs in 3 2/3 innings — but he has rebounded with a 1.13 ERA in his two most recent appearances.

Lamar comes off Friday’s win, with right-hander Julius Carpio throwing two scoreless innings in relief and second baseman Beau Durbin going 2-for-4 with an RBI. The Cardinals have won four of their past six games.

The series continues the Southland Conference schedule for both teams. First pitch for the opener is set for 2 p.m., with the second game to follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1.