2024 Lamar Cardinals baseball team

The 2024 Lamar Cardinals baseball team represented Lamar University during the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball season as members of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals played their home games at Vincent–Beck Stadium and were led by eighth–year head coach Will Davis. On May 16, the team clinched at least a share of the conference regular season championship. The Cardinals moved to sole regular season champions due to a 6–10 Nicholls loss to McNeese in both teams' final regular season game on May 18. The team compiled a 44–15 overall record and were 17–7 in conference play winning the regular season championship. They qualified for the SLC tournament as the number 1 seed. The Cardinals advanced to the tournament semi–finals with a 3–2 tournament record losing their first game 3–6 to 8th seeded Incarnate Word and winning three elimination games defeating 4th seeded Northwestern State 12–5, Incarnate Word 18–6 , and McNeese 18–9. Their season ended with a loss to McNeese 4–14 .

Previous season

The Cardinals had an overall season record of 32–23 including a conference record of 13–11 finishing in third place in SLC play. They participated in the 2023 Southland Conference baseball tournament as the third seeded team. The Cardinals were 0–2 in the conference tournament losing to fourth seeded New Orleans 1–4 and first seeded Nicholls 0–4.

New Players

On September 26, 2023, Lamar announced the addition of eight junior college transfers joining the team for the 2024 season. On October 21, 2023, Lamar announced ten transfers from NCAA Division I programs and one player from an NCAA Division II program.

College Top 25: April 15

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 8, 2024. Lamar was picked to finish second in the Southland Conference with 106 overall votes and 1 first place vote.

Preseason All-Southland team

Ethan Ruiz, Brooks Caple, Hunter Hesseltine, and Kanin Dodge were named to the conference preseason first team. Austin Roccaforte, River Orsak, Jacob Ellis, and Jackson Cleveland were named to the conference preseason second team.

First Team

• Edgar Alvarez* (NICH, SR, 1st Base)
• MaCrae Kendrick (NICH, SR, 2nd Base)
• Ethan Ruiz (LU, SR, 3rd Base)
• Parker Coddou* (NICH, SR, Shortstop)
• Miguel Useche (UNO, SR, Catcher)
• Rey Mendoza* (UIW, GR, Designated Hitter)9
• Mitchell Sanford* (UNO, RJR, Outfielder)
• Samuel Benjamin* (HCU, SR, Outfielder)
• Issac Williams (UNO, SR, Outfielder)
• Jacob Mayers* (NICH, SO, Starting Pitcher)
• Brooks Caple* (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
• Hunter Hesseltine* (LU, JR, Starting Pitcher)
• Gavin Galy* (NICH, RJR, Relief Pitcher)
• Kanin Dodge (LU, SR, Utility)

*-2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

Second Team

• Cameron Crotte (UIW, SR, 1st Base)
• Austin Roccaforte (LU, SR, 2nd Base)
• Dylan Mach (UNO, SR, 3rd Base)9
• Jake Haze* (SLU, GR, Shortstop)
• Bo Willis (NWST, SR, Catcher)
• River Orsak (LU, SR, Designated Hitter)
• Garrett Felix (NICH, SR, Outfielder)
• Cooper Hext (MCNS, SR, Outfielder)
• Christian Smith-Johnson (TAMUCC, SO, Outfielder)
• Chase Prestwich (NWST, JR, Starting Pitcher)
• Isaiah Zavala (UIW, GR, Starting Pitcher)
• Jacob Ellis (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
• Jackson Cleveland (LU, JR, Relief Pitcher)
• Grant Randall (UIW, SR, Utility)

*-2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

Roster

Schedule and results

National recognition

The Cardinals appeared in the top 25 in three national polls during the week of April 14. They were ranked #24 in the April 14 College Baseball nation poll. On April 15, the Cardinals were ranked #24 in the Baseball America poll. The same day, the Cardinals were ranked #25 in the Perfect Game poll. The Cardinals dropped out of both polls the following week after losing two of three games in a conference series against Texas A&M–Corpus Christi.

Conference awards and honors

Head coach Will Davis was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year. Brooks Caple was named Pitcher of the Year.

2024 All-Southland Conference team

Source:<br> Brooks Caple was named to the conference first team. Zak Skinner, Brayden Evans, River Orsak, Jacob Ellis, and Hunter Hesseltine were named as conference second team members. Kanin Dodge was named to the conference All–Defensive team.

First Team

• Miguel Useche (UNO, SR, Catcher)
• Edgar Alvarez (NICH, SR, 1st Base)
• Isaac Webb (TAMUCC, RJR, 2nd Base)
• TJ Salvaggio (SLU, JR, Shortstop)
• Shea Thomas (SLU, SR, 3rd Base)
• Mitchell Sanford (UNO, RJR, Outfielder)
• Samuel Benjamin (HCU, SR, Outfielder)
• Cooper Hext (MCN, SR, Outfielder)
• Dalton Beck (UIW, JR, Designaterd Hitter)
• Bryce Calloway (UNO, JR, Utility)
• Brooks Caple (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
• Colton Mercer (UNO, JR, Starting Pitcher)
• Brennan Stuprich (SLU, RJR, Starting Pitcher)
• Nico Saltaformaggio (NICH, SR, Relief Pitcher)

Second Team

• Zak Skinner (LU, JR, Catcher)
• Brayden Evans (LU, JR, 1st Base)
• Diego Villescas (UNO, JR, 2nd Base)
• Parker Coddou (NICH, JR, Shortstop)
• Sebastian Trinidad (TAMUCC, SR, 3rd Base)
• Reese Lipoma (NWST, JR, Outfielder)
• Basiel Williams (NICH, RSR, Outfielder)
• Cameron Caley (UIW, SR, Outfielder)
• River Orsak (LU, SR, Designaterd Hitter)
• Drake Anderson (NICH, JR, Utility)
• Matthew Watson (TAMUCC, RJR, Starting Pitcher)
• Jacob Ellis (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
• Hunter Hesseltine (LU, JR, Starting Pitcher)
• Caleb Bunch (NWST, JR, Relief Pitcher)

2024 All-Southland Defensive team

• Miguel Useche (UNO, JR, Catcher)
• Edgar Alvarez (NICH, SR, 1st Base)
• Dalton Hurst (UNO, JR, 2nd Base)
• Kanin Dodge (LU, SR, Shortstop)
• Rocco Gump (NWST, JR, 3rd Base)
• Cooper Hext (MCN, SR, Left Fielder)
• Conner Westenburg (MCN, JR, Center Fielder)
• Mitchell Sanford (UNO, SR, Right Fielder)
• Cameron LeJeune (MCN, RJR, Pitcher)

Weekly awards

Rankings

See also

2024 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team

References