Preview: Louisiana Tech Hosts Sam Houston in C-USA Series Finale

RUSTON, La. (Interstat) — Louisiana Tech looks to complete a series sweep Saturday afternoon when it hosts Sam Houston in a Conference USA baseball game at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

The Bulldogs (33-22) have won the first two games of the three-game set, taking a 2-1 decision Thursday and an 8-2 victory Friday. Louisiana Tech has won four of its last five overall after taking two of three at Liberty last weekend.

Sam Houston (23-32) has lost two straight and four of its last six.

First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon. The forecast calls for 87-degree temperatures and cloudy skies.

Players to Watch

Sam Houston right-hander Tate Hickman is expected to start. Hickman took the loss Friday, allowing three earned runs on no hits over four innings. He struck out two and walked two. In five April and May starts, Hickman has a 4.63 ERA over 21 2/3 innings. He has 12 strikeouts against eight walks in that span.

Louisiana Tech outfielder Wesley Scott enters Saturday’s game on a tear. In Friday’s win, Scott went 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs. Over his last seven games, Scott is 8-for-24 (.333) with two homers and eight RBIs. He also went 3-for-4 in Thursday’s 2-1 victory.

Recent History

Louisiana Tech’s Hudson Rowan earned the win Friday, tossing five scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and struck out five. Trey Hawsey also homered twice and drove in three runs for the Bulldogs.

Sam Houston’s Ryan Franden went 2-for-4 in the loss. The Bearkats managed just five hits as a team.

Projection

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-3 victory for Louisiana Tech. The Interstat ELO system gives the Bulldogs a 70.1 percent probability of winning.

The game marks the regular-season finale for both teams. Conference USA tournament seeding could be affected by the outcome.