UALR vs. Troy WHEN 6 p.m. today, 4 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday WHERE Gary Hogan Field, Little Rock RECORDS UALR 13-20, 3-12 Sun Belt Conference; Troy 19-18, 6-8 RADIO None INTERNET ualrtrojans.com
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS TODAY UALR: RHP Cory Malcom (1-0, 3.24 ERA); Troy: RHP Tanner Hicks (2-6, 4.15) SATURDAY UALR: RHP Sam Thoele (0-2, 2.49 ERA); Troy: RHP Shane McCain (3-3, 2.95) SUNDAY UALR: RHP Cameron Allen (3-3, 4.00 ERA); Troy: TBD
THE RUNDOWN With 15 conference games remaining, UALR still has time to play its way into the Sun Belt Tournament, but time is running out. The Trojans are in last place in the Sun Belt and 3½ games out of the eighth and final spot for next month’s tournament. Their final two series of the season are against teams in the top four of the league standings. … UALR changed its pitching rotation for this weekend, with freshman Cory Malcom getting his second start of the season tonight. He’s never pitched more than 3 2/3 innings in any of his nine outings.
- Troy Schulte
Arkansas State vs. Louisiana-Monroe WHEN 5 p.m. today, 6 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday WHERE Tomlinson Stadium, Jonesboro RECORDS Arkansas State 21-16, 10-5 Sun Belt; Louisiana-Monroe 16-23, 7-8 RADIO KNEA-FM, 95.3, in Jonesboro; KNEA-AM, 970, in Jonesboro INTERNET astateredwolves.com
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS TODAY Arkansas State: RHP David Owen (4-2, 4.47 ERA); Louisiana-Monroe: RHP Alex Hermeling (1-4, 5.27) SATURDAY Arkansas State: RHP Bryan Ayers (1-1, 3.18 ERA): Louisiana-Monroe: LHP Chad Miller (2-1, 4.82) SUNDAY Arkansas State: RHP Bradley Wallace (3-3, 4.06 ERA); Louisiana-Monroe: RHP Chris Hunt (2-2, 4.91)
THE RUNDOWN Arkansas State has rediscovered its stride entering this weekend’s series, having won five of its last six games. The Red Wolves won the final two games of a series at South Alabama, then won at Memphis on Tuesday. … Louisiana-Monroe is ninth in the Sun Belt in hitting (.236) and has the league’s highest team ERA at 6.03. … ASU freshman Bryan Ayers (1-1) is scheduled to get his first weekend start. He defeated Central Arkansas 3-0 April 9.
- Troy Schulte
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Grambling State WHEN Noon today (doubleheader), 1 p.m. Saturday WHERE Torii Hunter Baseball Complex, Pine Bluff RECORDS Arkansas-Pine Bluff 14-22, 12-5 SWAC; Grambling State 11-24, 8-10 RADIO None INTERNET uapblionsroar.com
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS TODAY GAME 1 UAPB: LHP Jim Ploeger (4-2, 2.54 ERA); Grambling State: TBA GAME 2 UAPB: RHP Mikey Ramirez (3-4, 4.11 ERA); Grambling State: TBA SATURDAY UAPB: RHP Kyle Schwartz (3-4, 5.74 ERA); Grambling State: TBA
THE RUNDOWN Arkansas-Pine Bluff won its first two nonconference games after losing its first 17 games outside the Southwestern Athletic Conference when it swept a doubleheader against Jarvis Christian on Tuesday, 8-3 and 6-2. … UAPB senior left-hander Jim Ploeger is fourth in the SWAC in ERA at 2.54. Ploeger allowed 2 earned runs (3 runs) on 5 hits in 6 2/3 innings last Saturday against Southern University, but took a no-decision in a 4-3 loss.
- Jeremy Muck
TODAY’S GAMES AlL times Central
Troy at UALR, 6 p.m.
La.-Monroe at Arkansas State, 6 p.m.
South Alabama at W. Kentucky, 6 p.m.
La.-Lafayette at UT-Arlington, 6:30 p.m.
Georgia State at Texas State, 6 :30 p.m.
Sports, Pages 23 on 04/18/2014