MESA, Ariz. (Interstat) — seed Tarleton State meets seed Sacramento State on Thursday in an elimination game of the Western Athletic Conference Baseball Championship at Hohokam Stadium.

The Texans (34-19) and Hornets (27-30) have split a contentious season series that concluded just last weekend in Sacramento. Tarleton State claimed a lopsided 15-4 victory on May 15, but the Hornets answered with an 8-4 win the following day to take the three-game set, 2-1.

Players to watch

Sacramento State designated hitter Ryan Ellis enters Thursday’s game with considerable momentum. In the Hornets’ most recent game, a 9-4 win over Abilene Christian on Wednesday, Ellis went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Over his last 11 games, he has collected at least one hit in 10 contests, including a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI in Sacramento State’s 8-5 win against Tarleton State on May 14. Ellis also drove in two runs in the series finale win over the Texans on May 16.

Tarleton State will rely on left-handed reliever Ashton Bassett, who has been dominant in limited recent action. In his last appearance, a 4-8 loss at Sacramento State on May 16, Bassett tossed three scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out four. Over his previous two outings, spanning 4 1/3 innings, he had allowed two hits and no earned runs with six strikeouts. Bassett’s command out of the bullpen could be critical if the Texans turn a close game over to him in the middle innings.

Recent form

Tarleton State has won eight of its last 11 games, though the club dropped two of three at Sacramento State last weekend. The Hornets have won four of their last six, including a 19-2 rout at California Baptist on May 10. Sacramento State’s pitching staff, however, has struggled with consistency. The Hornets allowed 13 runs in a 10-inning loss to Abilene Christian on May 3 and 15 runs in last Friday’s defeat to the Texans.

Game notes

First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT. The winner advances in the double-elimination bracket. The loser is eliminated from the tournament.