UALR AT NO. 3 LA.-LAFAYETTE WHEN 6 p.m. today, 6 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday WHERE Tigue Moore Field, Lafayette, La. RECORDS UALR 13-17, 3-9 Sun Belt; Louisiana-Lafayette 31-4, 11-1 RANKINGS Louisiana-Lafayette No. 3 in Baseball America poll RADIO None INTERNET ualrtrojans.com
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
TODAY
UALR: Travis McDonald (LHP, 2-3, 3.93 ERA); Louisiana-Lafayette: Carson Baranik (RHP, 7-0, 2.65)
SATURDAY
UALR: Ethan Schlechte (RHP, 2-5, 4.58); Louisiana-Lafayette: Ryan Wilson (LHP, 4-0, 1.63)
SUNDAY
UALR: Cameron Allen (RHP, 3-2, 3.60); Louisiana-Lafayette: Cody Boutte (LHP, 4-0, 3.78)
THE RUNDOWN Even without two members of its weekend rotation, Louisiana-Lafayette is UALR’s biggest challenge of the season. Austin Robichaux has soreness in a tendon and Greg Milhorn missed a start last weekend because of a pulled oblique muscle, according to the Daily Advertiser of Lafayette, La. … The Ragin’ Cajuns lost 8-7 to New Orleans on Tuesday but are 20-2 since March 7 and have lost only one Sun Belt game. They lead the Sun Belt in hitting (.326), runs (287), doubles (84), triples (20), stolen bases (53) and home runs (43), which also leads the nation. They also lead in team ERA (3.15). … UALR’s Ethan Schlechte keeps his spot in the rotation after filling in for the suspended Travis McDonald last weekend. Schlechte gave up 1 earned run in 3 1/3 innings of a victory over Georgia State on April 4.
ARKANSAS STATE AT SOUTH ALABAMA
WHEN 6:30 p.m. today, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday WHERE Stanky Field, Mobile, Ala.
RECORDS Arkansas State 17-15, 8-4 Sun Belt; South Alabama 15-16, 5-6 RADIO KNEA-FM, 95.3, in Jonesboro; KNEA-AM, 970, in Jonesboro INTERNET astateredwolves.com
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
TODAY
Arkansas State: David Owen (RHP, 4-1, 3.89 ERA); South Alabama: Locke St. John (LHP, 3-1, 3.06)
SATURDAY
Arkansas State: Chandler Hawkins (LHP, 2-4, 5.40 ERA); South Alabama: Kevin Hill (RHP, 2-4, 4.00)
SUNDAY
Arkansas State: Bradley Wallace (RHP, 3-3, 4.23 ERA); South Alabama: Hunter Soleymani (RHP, 0-1, 2.66) THE RUNDOWN Catching Louisiana-Lafayette for the top spot in the Sun Belt looks like a tall order, but Arkansas State is doing what it can to hang onto second place. The Red Wolves can distance themselves further from third-place Texas State by rebounding from last weekend’s series loss at Western Kentucky. Tonight’s starter, David Owen, is coming off his first loss last weekend, and the Red Wolves’ lost their first Sun Belt series of the season. Senior starter Bradley Wallace has won his past two starts, holding opponents without an earned run and nine hits over 14 innings.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS AT NICHOLLS STATE
WHEN 6 p.m. today, 6 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday WHERE Ray E. Didier Field, Thibodaux, La.
RECORDS Central Arkansas 17-13, 6-6 Southland; Nicholls State 17-18, 8-4 RADIO KUCA-FM, 91.3, in Conway INTERNET ucasports.com PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS TODAY UCA: Bryce Biggerstaff (RHP, 2-3, 3.32 ERA); Nicholls State: Taylor Byrd (LHP, 4-2, 1.59) SATURDAY UCA: Chris Caudle (RHP, 5-2, 2.66 ERA); Nicholls State: Grant Borne (LHP, 4-2, 3.51) SUNDAY UCA: Connor McClain (RHP, 4-2, 5.45 ERA); Nicholls State: Brandon Jackson (RHP, 2-1, 1.50) THE RUNDOWN
Central Arkansas has lost 3 of 4 since beating UALR in 11 innings last Wednesday. The Bears lost 2 of 3 to Southeastern Louisiana last weekend and fell 3-0 at Arkansas State on Wednesday. … UCA right-hander Chris Caudle allowed one hit in the Bears’ 3-0 victory last Saturday in Conway. Caudle has been UCA’s most consistent starter this season, posting a 5-2 record with a 2.66 ERA, and has won his past two starts.
ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
WHEN Noon (DH) Central Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday
WHERE Lee-Hines Field, Baton Rouge
RECORDS Arkansas-Pine Bluff 10-21, 10-4 SWAC; Southern University 5-16, 1-9 RADIO None INTERNET uapblionsroar.com
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
SATURDAY GAME 1
UAPB: RHP Kyle Schwartz (2-4, 5.19 ERA); Southern: TBA
GAME 2 UAPB: RHP Mikey Ramirez (3-4, 3.14 ERA); Southern: TBA
SUNDAY UAPB: LHP Jim Ploeger (4-2, 2.52 ERA); Southern: TBA
THE RUNDOWN Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s nonconference game against Lyon College this week was cancelled because of inclement weather, so Saturday will be the first day in almost a week the Golden Lions have played. The Golden Lions took 2 of 3 from Prairie View A&M last weekend. … Golden Lions senior shortstop Isias Alcantar leads UAPB offensively, batting .308 with 2 home runs and 20 RBI.
Sports, Pages 23 on 04/11/2014