UALR at Georgia Southern
WHEN 6 p.m. Central today, 6 p.m. Saturday, noon Sunday
WHERE J.I. Clements Stadium, Statesboro, Ga.
RECORDS UALR 18-17, 11-7 Sun Belt Conference; Georgia Southern 23-15, 9-9 COACHES Chris Curry (34-50 in second season at UALR and overall); Rodney Hennon (593-407 in 17th season at Georgia Southern, 674-445-1 in 19th season overall)
THIS WEEK No games
INTERNET ualrtrojans.com
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
TODAY
UALR: Matt McDowell (RHP, 1-1, 5.06 ERA); GSU: Evan Challenger (LHP, 4-3, 2.37 ERA)
SATURDAY
UALR: Cory Malcom (RHP, 3-3, 6.62); GSU:Chase Cohen (RHP, 4-2, 2.05)
SUNDAY
UALR: Joe Corbett (RHP, 3-0, 6.75); GSU: Brian Eichhorn (RHP, 3-1, 4.17) RUNDOWN A victory tonight would extend UALR’s winning streak in Sun Belt games to six and match last year’s victory total in conference games. The Trojans also can stay in the top three of the league standings with another series victory. UALR has gotten there with one of the league’s best offenses. The Trojans lead the Sun Belt in hitting (.304) and are third in runs scored. Outfielders Ryan Scott (.451) and Dalton Thomas (.408) rank first and second in hitting, respectively. Georgia Southern starters Chase Cohen (2.05) and Evan Challenger (2.37) rank third and fifth in ERA, respectively. UALR’s season-long nemesis — erratic pitching — cost it a victory at Central Arkansas on Wednesday. UALR walked 15 batters in the game and its 170 walks this season are the most in the Sun Belt Conference. Still, UALR enters the weekend fourth in the Sun Belt standings, one victory away from tying last year’s overall victory total and a series victory would be its fourth this season, which would be more than last year. Texas State has swept Louisiana-Monroe, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern in Sun Belt play. Catcher Tanner Hill leads the Sun Belt and is seventh nationally with 12 home runs.
Arkansas State
vs. Louisiana-Monroe
WHEN 6 p.m. today, 6 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday
WHERE Tomlinson Stadium, Jonesboro RECORDS Arkansas State 15-21, 5-13 Sun Belt; Louisiana-Monroe 15-22, 6-9 COACHES Tommy Raffo (216-221-1 in eighth season at ASU and overall); Bruce Peddie (55-70 in third season at Louisiana-Monroe, 427-471-3 in 18th season overall)
THIS WEEK Won 7-1 at Southern Illinois on Tuesday
INTERNET astateredwolves.com
RADIO KNEA-FM, 95.3, in Jonesboro
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
TODAY
ASU: Cody Jackson (RHP, 0-2, 4.19 ERA); ULM: Trey Auger (LHP, 1-1, 3.63)
SATURDAY
ASU: Bryan Ayers (RHP, 2-2, 4.02); ULM: Brayden Bouchey (RHP, 4-2, 3.18)
SUNDAY
ASU: Adam Grantham (RHP, 1-3, 5.19); ULM: Brandon Bell (RHP, 2-4, 6.57)
THE RUNDOWN Arkansas State shook up its rotation last week, and it at least helped stop an eight-game losing streak. Bryan Ayers held Troy to 2 runs over 5 innings in a 4-3 victory last Saturday, before ASU lost the finale. The Red Wolves beat Southern Illinois on Tuesday before heading into a series that is crucial to their Sun Belt Tournament hopes. With four series left, ASU is 2½ games out of the final spot in the tournament.
Central Arkansas
vs. Northwestern (La.) St.
WHEN 6 p.m. today, 6 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday
WHERE Bear Stadium, Conway
RECORDS Central Arkansas 15-20, 6-9 Southland; Northwestern State 18-17, 9-9
COACHES Allen Gum (166-147 in sixth season at UCA, 392-215 in 11th season overall); Lane Burroughs (98-106 in third season at Northwestern State and overall)
THIS WEEK Lost 8-6 at Vanderbilt
INTERNET ucasports.com
RADIO KUCA-FM, 91.3, in Conway
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
TODAY
UCA: Connor Gilmore (RHP, 2-6, 4.34 ERA); NSU: Adam Oller (RHP, 4-0, 1.34)
SATURDAY
UCA: Cody Davenport (RHP, 2-2, 3.81); NSU: Chase Hymel (LHP, 2-4, 3.10)
UCA: Riley Echols (RHP, 2-1, 3.86); NSU: Evan Tidwell (4-2, 3.28)
THE RUNDOWN After three consecutive weekends on the road, UCA returns tonight to Bear Stadium, where it is 12-4 this season and 5-1 in Southland Conference games. The Bears swept Stephen F. Austin at home and won two in a series against Houston Baptist. They are a combined 1-8 the past three weekends at Sam Houston State, Oregon Sate and Nicholls State. This weekend’s series features two of the lowest scoring teams in the Southland, and Northwestern State’s team ERA of 3.24 is the second-lowest in the league.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
at Prairie View A&M
WHEN 3 p.m. Central today, 3 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday
WHERE Tankersely Field, Prairie View, Texas
RECORDS UAPB 15-19, 11-4 SWAC; Prairie View A&M 9-22, 4-13
COACHES Carlos James (101-167-1 in sixth season at UAPB, 129-245-2 in ninth season overall); Auntwan Riggins (9-22 in first season at Prairie View and overall) THIS WEEK Won 7-3 at Alcorn State on Tuesday
INTERNET uapblionsroar.com
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
TODAY
UAPB: Blake Estep (RHP, 2-3, 4.91 ERA); PV: Edgar Sanchez (RHP, 2-3, 4.97)
SATURDAY
UAPB: Humberto Medina (RHP, 4-3, 5.53); PV: Charles Philpott (RHP, 1-6, 7.95)
SUNDAY
UAPB: C.J. Lewington (RHP, 2-4, 4.15); PV: Darrien Williams (RHP, 2-5, 8.24) THE RUNDOWN UAPB pulled into a tie atop the SWAC West Division following a sweep of Texas Southern last week, and now plays a team it beat combined 44-2 over three games earlier this season. The Golden Lions have won seven consecutive games and nine of their past 10 as they try to take control of the West Division. UAPB has had to rally for five of its victories in its winning streak and have won six games over its past 10 by three runs or less.