SUN BELT BASEBALL PREVIEW

Georgia State (22-22) at Louisiana-Lafayette (26-18) M.L. Tigue Moore Field, Lafayette, La. Saturday, May 2, 2026 (Interstat) — First pitch: 4 p.m. (split doubleheader, game 2) Weather: 60 degrees, rain likely

LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — Georgia State and Louisiana-Lafayette meet Saturday evening in the second game of a three-game Sun Belt series, with the Ragin’ Cajuns looking to build on a 5-0 shutout victory in Friday’s opener.

The Ragin’ Cajuns (26-18, 14-10 in Sun Belt play) enter with a 66.9 percent win probability per Interstat’s ELO system, which projects a 7-6 final score. Louisiana-Lafayette won 5-0 on Friday behind strong pitching, but Saturday’s forecast of 60-degree rain could affect conditions at Tigue Moore Field.

Georgia State (22-22, 12-12) counters with right-hander Will Bartkoski, who has been effective in his previous three appearances entering the series. Bartkoski earned a win against Old Dominion on April 26, throwing 6.0 innings with five hits, one earned run and five strikeouts. He followed a dominant 5.0-inning, three-strikeout shutout at Coastal Carolina on April 19. Across his last two starts, Bartkoski has allowed one earned run in 11.0 innings with eight strikeouts. He also appeared in relief April 18 at Coastal Carolina (0.1 IP, 0 H, 1 K) and in a win April 12 against James Madison (3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 K).

Louisiana-Lafayette is expected to turn to right-hander Hayden Pearson, who has been used primarily in relief and short starts. Pearson earned a win Wednesday against Nicholls State, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings with two hits and three strikeouts. He took a loss April 26 at Arkansas State (3.0 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 2 K) and allowed one earned run April 19 at Troy (1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 1 K). In his five most recent outings, Pearson has a 2.79 ERA over 9.2 innings with seven strikeouts.

The Ragin’ Cajuns won Friday’s opener behind a combined shutout. Catcher Colt Brown went 1-for-2 with three RBIs in Wednesday’s 7-1 win over Nicholls State, while reliever Ty Roman added 4.0 scoreless innings. Georgia State shortstop Wills Maginnis (3-for-6, HR, 2 RBIs) and catcher Cole Griffith (2-for-4, HR, 4 RBIs) powered the Panthers in their most recent win, an 8-7 extra-inning victory April 26 over Old Dominion.

Saturday’s game is the second of three this weekend in this Sun Belt series. The teams conclude the set Sunday. Louisiana-Lafayette then hosts New Orleans on Tuesday, while Georgia State travels to Kennesaw State on Tuesday.