MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Guardian Credit Union Sun Belt Conference Baseball Championship Presented by Troy University begins on Wednesday for fifth seeded Texas State (35-21) against fourth seeded Louisiana (36-20) at 7:30 p.m. from Riverwalk Stadium.
 
All games of the championship will be streamed on ESPN+ with Matt Stewart and Ty Harrington on the call. Fans can also listen to the action on KTSW 89.9 FM with Brant Freeman providing the play-by-play.
 
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Wednesday: TXST RHP Levi Wells (8-3, 4.76 ERA) vs. LA RHP Jackson Nezuh (8-5, 6.72 ERA)
 
TXST IN SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP
For the ninth time, the Bobcats will be playing in the Sun Belt Championship. TXST is 10-14 all-time when playing in the tournament. The team has lost six of its last seven games with the lone win in the span coming last season in the quarterfinals against ULM. Four times (2014-15, 2017-18) Texas State has advanced to the semifinals.
 
ABOUT TEXAS STATE
The Bobcats wrapped up the regular season with a series win over ULM at home that was capped off with a 17-0 run-rule affair in seven innings. That victory was the 25th at home this season. TXST is 10-14 on the road and will be playing its first neutral site games of the season this week.
 
Davis Powell paces the squad offensively with a .353 average, 61 hits, 46 runs and 17 doubles. He has also driven in 32 and hit five home runs. Chase Mora has hit a team-high 17 home runs, which are tied for the fourth most in a season by a Bobcat, and his batting .322 with 54 RBI and 37 runs scored. Jose Gonzalez (58 RBI) has hit 13 homers runs and the trio of Cade Manning (26 RBI), Daylan Pena (39 RBI) and August Ramirez (31 RBI) have bashed 10 long balls apiece.
 
Slated to start on Wednesday is Levi Wells. The All-Sun Belt Second Team selection has posted an 8-3 record with a 4.76 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 75.2 innings in 13 starts.
 
Triston Dixon (5-1, 4.47 ERA, 5 SV) has made a team-high 27 appearances in relief. Pacing all relievers with 58 strikeouts and a 3.30 ERA while also posting a 3-2 record and four saves is Jack Stroud. Only other reliever with a sub-4.00 ERA is Jonathan Martinez at 3.93.
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns concluded the regular season with a series loss at Southern Miss. They posted a 12-11 mark away from home including a neutral site defeat to Mississippi State on Mar. 15 in Biloxi, Miss.
 
Kyle DeBarge leads the team with a .357 average while recording 12 doubles, six home runs, 42 runs, 32 RBI and 16 stolen bases. Heath Hood enters with a team best 74 this and 34 steals. Julian Brock (.328) has a squad best 11 home runs and 59 RBI while Max Marusak is the only other Cajuns with double-digit homers at 10.
 
As a team, Louisiana has swiped 157 bases. The total is the third most in the nation.
 
Jackson Nezuh will start on Wednesday. The right-handed Florida State transfer comes in with an 8-5 record, 6.72 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 76.1 innings spanning 16 games, including 15 starts. In his first start this season against the Bobcats, he struck out seven in seven frames while allowing just two runs on four hits.
 
Out of the bullpen, Cooper Rawls is 10-1 with a 3.05 ERA and one save. The right-hander has made 22 appearances, including four starts, while striking out 45 in 56.0 innings. Coming out of the bullpen at least 20 times has been David Christie (1-0, 2 SV, 5.45 ERA, 44 K) and Blake Marshall (2-1, 4 SV, 6.26 ERA, 25 K).
 
SERIES VS. RAGIN' CAJUNS
Louisiana leads the all-time series 28-21 after sweeping the regular season series. Previously, the teams have met nine times in the Sun Belt Championship with the Cajuns coming out on top seven times. Texas State's last win over Louisiana in the conference tournament was on May 25, 2018 by an 11-1 score in seven innings that was played in Lafayette, La.
 
For all things Texas State baseball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.