AP Sports Preview: Tarleton State at Sacramento State

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — Tarleton State takes its Western Athletic Conference-leading record on the road Thursday, visiting Sacramento State at John Smith Field in the opener of a three-game series.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. PDT under clear skies with temperatures expected near 77 degrees.

The Texans (33-17, 18-6 WAC) enter on a two-game losing streak after dropping Sunday’s series finale 4-2 at home against Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Tarleton State won the first two games of that series by scores of 10-8 and 7-4, and the Texans have won eight of their last 11 contests overall.

Sacramento State (24-29, 15-12) comes off a dominant 19-2 victory at California Baptist on Sunday to claim a series win. The Hornets dropped the middle game 5-4, but have won three of their last five.

Players to watch

Tarleton State right-hander Cort Lowry worked 3.1 innings of relief Sunday against Texas-Rio Grande Valley, allowing one earned run on one hit while striking out two. In his previous outing May 3 at Utah Tech, Lowry tossed a scoreless inning with one hit allowed in a 10-8 Texans win. Lowry has not started a game this season.

Sacramento State first baseman Luis PimentelGuerrero erupted Sunday at California Baptist, going 4-for-5 with six RBIs — the standout performance in the Hornets’ highest-scoring output of the season. He is 3-for-14 over his last four games after an 0-for-8 stretch against Abilene Christian the previous weekend.

Series preview

Interstat’s game simulator projects an 8-5 Tarleton State victory, while the organization’s ELO system gives Sacramento State a 50.3 percent win probability, reflecting a tight matchup on paper.

The two teams are scheduled to play again Friday and Saturday at John Smith Field before Tarleton State returns home.