Sun Belt Conference Baseball: Weekend Preview

Five big series’ highlight the second weekend of Sun Belt Conference play this week.

After one weekend of play, Louisiana, Texas St., and Arkansas St. are all 3-0, followed by WKU at 2-1, South Alabama and Troy at 1-1, and Georgia St. at 1-2, while UALR, ULM, and UT-Arlington are all 0-3.

Let’s take a look at the respective conference series’ schedule for this weekend, with statistics entering play earlier in the week:

GEORGIA ST. (10-11, 1-2) at #5 LOUISIANA (19-2, 3-0)

This match-up will feature the top two hitting teams in the Sun Belt, with Georgia St. at the top (.307) and Louisiana right behind (.296)

The Cajuns lead the league in runs scored (141), while the Panthers rank first in home runs (23).

Louisiana is led by shortstop Blake Trahan, who is second in the league in hitting, at a .377, right behind Georgia St.'s Nick Wilson, who is atop the conference statistics in hitting, with a .449 average, along with eight home runs and 26 runs batted in.

In terms of pitching, Louisiana ranks first (2.30 ERA.), with Georgia St. checking in at number nine (4.99).

The Cajuns feature right-hander Carson Baranik, who ranks first in the league in ERA. (0.70), and Austin Robichaux, who ranks fourth (1.66).

Louisiana is riding a nine-game win streak, and the fact that they rank first in the league in both pitching and fielding, and second in hitting, is a big part of the reason why.

Game times are scheduled for 6 pm, 2 pm, and 1 pm (cdt), Friday-Sunday.

TEXAS ST. (13-7, 3-0) at WKU (12-8, 2-1)

Offensively, Texas St. ranks fifth in hitting (.259), while WKU ranks fourth (.280).

Pitching-wise the Bobcats rank fifth in ERA. (4.33), while the Hilltoppers currently rank eighth (4.26).

Game times are set for 6 pm, 2 pm, and noon (cdt) Friday-Sunday

ARKANSAS ST. (11-9, 3-0) at UT-ARLINGTON (6-14, 0-3)

In the hitting department, Arkansas St. ranks third (.286), with UT-Arlington a couple of spots behind in fifth (.279).

In terms of pitching, the Red Wolves currently rank sixth as a team (3.77), while the Mavericks rank seventh (4.15).

Scheduled game times are 6:30 pm (cdt) on Friday, 2 pm on Saturday, and 1 pm on Sunday.

SOUTH ALABAMA (10-9, 1-1) at UALR (10-8, 0-3)

South Alabama ranks eight in hitting (.239), and third in pitching (2.98 ERA.), while UALR ranks ninth in hitting (.235) and fourth in pitching (3.32).

Game times are set for 6 pm, 3 pm, and 1 pm (cdt), Friday-Sunday.

ULM (7-14, 0-3) at TROY (12-9, 1-1)

Offensively, ULM ranks last in hitting (.220), while Troy is hitting a .249, which ranks seventh.

In the pitching category, the Warhawks are currently tenth (4.22 ERA.), while the Trojans rank second (2.84).

Game times for the series are 6 pm (cdt) on Friday, 6 pm on Saturday, and 1 pm on Sunday.