SAN MARCOS, Texas – Pool play in the Sun Belt Conference Championship will see Texas State (21-34) take on Appalachian State (20-30) and Louisiana (30-22) in Pool C at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama. The Bobcats open with the Mountaineers at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and follow with the Ragin' Cajuns at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
 
Both games will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will also be available.
 
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Tuesday: Zachary Leigh (4-7, 5.40 ERA) vs. Quinton Martinez (3-7, 5.92 ERA)
Wednesday: Zeke Wood (3-5, 4.45 ERA) vs. TBA
 
TEXAS STATE IN SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP
TXST enters the Sun Belt Championship as the sixth seed out of the West Division. The Bobcats will have to win both games in pool play to advance to the semifinals.
 
All-time in the conference tournament, Texas State is 9-11 and has reached the semifinals four times.
 
ABOUT APPALACHIAN STATE
Appalachian State completed the regular season with a 20-30 record and were 11-10 in conference play to finish fourth in the East. The Mountaineers will be playing their first neutral site game of the season on Tuesday. On the road, they have gone 8-22 with just three wins against Sun Belt opponents.
 
Robbie Young leads APP with a .299 batting average. He has also plated 28 runs, scored 24 times and hit three home runs. Luke Drumheller comes in hitting .285 with 10 doubles and five homers. The second baseman paces the team with 55 hits and 36 RBI.
 
Slated to get the start on Tuesday will be Quinton Martinez. The left-hander is 3-7 with a 5.92 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 59.1 innings. Opponents are hitting .288 off him and the lefty has allowed 18 doubles, 10 home runs and one triple.
 
SERIES VS. THE MOUNTAINEERS
Texas State leads the all-time series 14-1. The Bobcats won the first 14 meetings before APP claimed the series finale on Mar. 31, 2019 in Boone in the last game between the teams. Tuesday will be the first contest that has taken place in the Sun Belt Championship.
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA
Louisiana finished the regular season at 30-22 and went 13-11 in conference play. The Ragin' Cajuns tied for first atop the West with UT Arlington and claimed the No. 1 seed due to winning the regular season series over the Mavericks. UL is 9-12 in road games this year and will be playing its first neutral site game at the conference tournament.
 
Three regulars are batting .300 or better led by Drake Osborn at .333. Brennan Breaux comes in hitting .316 with 25 RBI, 21 runs scored and 12 doubles. Ben Fitzgerald has a .300 batting average with a team-high 54 hits and 11 homers.
 
On the base paths, Tyler Robertson has gone 20-for-24 stealing bases and Carson Roccaforte also has double-digit steals with 13 in 16 attempts.
 
Wednesday's starter for the Cajuns is still to be announced.
 
ALL-TIME VS. THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Louisiana leads the all-time series 23-18. However, Texas State has won eight of the last nine meetings that included winning two of three on the road this year. The Bobcats are 2-6 all-time when facing the Cajuns in the Sun Belt Championship with the last game coming on May 25, 2018 with TXST winning 11-1 in seven innings that took place in Lafayette.
 
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