UALR at La.-Monroe WHEN 6 p.m. today, 6 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday. All times Central.
WHERE Warhawk Field, Monroe, La.
RECORDS UALR 11-10, 1-5 Sun Belt; Louisiana-Monroe 8-17, 1-5 RADIO None INTERNET ualrtrojans.com
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS TODAY UALR: Travis McDonald (LHP, 2-2, 3.27 ERA); Louisiana-Monroe: Chris Hunt (RHP, 1-1, 3.28) SATURDAY UALR: Sam Thoele (RHP, 0-0, 0.00 ERA); Louisiana-Monroe: Chad Miller (LHP, 2-0, 4.09) SUNDAY UALR: Cameron Allen (RHP, 2-1, 2.76 ERA); Alex Hermeling (RHP, 0-3, 5.84) THE RUNDOWN Both teams are trying to get out of a four-way tie for last place in the Sun Belt Conference standings. Louisiana-Monroe will try to do it without Jeff Schexnaider, who was fired as the team’s coach after eight-plus seasons Thursday morning. Hitting coach Bruce Peddie, who was head coach at New Orleans in 2009-2013, will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season, the Monroe News Star reported. Sophomore righthander Sam Theole will get his first start this season Saturday. He has yet to allow an earned run in 7 relief appearances while striking out 4 and walking 2 in 8 1/3 innings.
Arkansas State vs. Texas State WHEN 6 p.m. today, 4 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. Sunday.
WHERE Tomlinson Stadium, Jonesboro RECORDS Arkansas State 14-11, 5-1 Sun Belt; Texas State 15-9, 5-1 RADIO KNEA-FM, 95.3, in Jonesboro; KNEA-AM, 970, in Jonesboro INTERNET astateredwolves.com
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS TODAY Arkansas State: David Owen (RHP, 4-0, 2.97 ERA); Texas State: Taylor Black (RHP, 2-3, 3.54) SATURDAY Arkansas State: Chandler Hawkins (LHP, 2-3, 5.04 ERA); Texas State: Austen Williams (RHP, 3-0, 2.89) SUNDAY Arkansas State: Bradley Wallace (RHP, 1-3, 6.66 ERA); Texas State: Lucas Humpal (RHP, 2-0, 3.49) THE RUNDOWN Arkansas State and Texas State are tied for second in the Sun Belt Conference standings and are trying to keep pace with first-place Louisiana-Lafayette, which is 6-0 in conference play. ASU’s Austin Baker ranks among the Sun Belt’s top five in runs (26), RBI (23), triples (4) and total bases (55) and is hitting .299. Starter David Owen is 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 2 Sun Belt starts.
Central Arkansas
at Stephen F. Austin WHEN 6:30 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday. All times Central.
WHERE Jaycees Field, Nacogdoches, Texas RECORDS Central Arkansas 14-8, 4-2 Southland; Stephen F. Austin 10-13, 2-4 RADIO KUCA-FM, 91.3, in Conway INTERNET ucasports.com
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS TODAY UCA: Connor Gilmore (RHP, 2-0, 2.96 ERA); SFA: Cameron Gann (RHP, 3-0, 1.55) SATURDAY UCA: Chris Caudle (RHP, 4-2, 3.25 ERA); SFA: Dillon Mangham (LHP, 3-2, 3.06) SUNDAY UCA: Connor McClain (RHP, 2-1, 5.73 ERA); SFA: Kevin Bishop (RHP, 1-3, 5.96) THE RUNDOWN Central Arkansas swept nationally ranked Sam Houston State in a three-game series last weekend in Conway. It was the first time Sam Houston State had been swept in the Southland Conference since 2011. The Bears, who had lost 2 of 3 in their conference-opening series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on March 14-16, used only two relievers the entire weekend against the Bearkats. UCA starters threw 24 2/3 of the 27 innings. Bears senior shortstop Justin Treece hit .556, going 10 for 18 in 5 games last week, earning Southland hitter of the week honors.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Texas Southern WHEN 12 p.m. Saturday (DH), 1 p.m. Sunday.
WHERE Torii Hunter Baseball Complex, Pine Bluff RECORDS UAPB 7-17, 7-1 Southwestern Athletic; Texas Southern 8-15, 5-2 RADIO None INTERNET uapblionsroar.com
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS SATURDAY GAME 1 UAPB: Kyle Schwartz (RHP, 2-3, 6.45 ERA); TSU: Devin Konarik (RHP, 1-0, 1.15) SATURDAY GAME 2 UAPB: Jim Ploeger (LHP, 2-2, 3.20 ERA); TSU: Michael Starkey (RHP, 2-2, 2.57) SUNDAY UAPB: Mikey Ramirez (RHP, 2-3, 3.16 ERA); TSU: Ryan Rios (RHP, 2-3, 4.15) THE RUNDOWN Arkansas-Pine Bluff is 7-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, but 0-16 in nonconference play. The Golden Lions have lost six consecutive and have not won since March 16, when they swept a doubleheader at Grambling State.
Sports, Pages 19 on 03/28/2014