MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Interstat) — The seed Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns (35-21) will face the seed Texas State Bobcats (35-22) in the opening game of the Sun Belt Baseball Championship on Thursday at Riverwalk Stadium.

First pitch is set for 3 p.m. The winner advances in the double-elimination tournament; the loser drops into the losers’ bracket.

Texas State swept a three-game series at home against Louisiana-Lafayette on March 20-22, outscoring the Ragin’ Cajuns 31-11. The Bobcats won 16-6, 11-4 and 4-1. But both teams enter the tournament after a pair of one-run victories in their regular-season finales.

The Bobcats defeated Appalachian State 6-5 on Wednesday, with right-hander Wade Cooper earning the win. Cooper (5-2) tossed six scoreless innings, allowing one hit, three walks and four strikeouts. Over his past six starts, Cooper has a 3.60 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 30 innings. He threw a complete-game shutout against Arkansas State on May 8, scattering two hits and striking out 12.

For Louisiana-Lafayette, right-hander Andrew Herrmann (6-3) will start. Herrmann earned the win Wednesday against Coastal Carolina, allowing four runs on one hit over five innings with four strikeouts, but he walked five. He had a 1.93 ERA over two previous outings, striking out 10 in 11 2/3 innings.

Herrmann has struggled with command, issuing 17 walks over his last four starts. However, he struck out six and allowed one run in seven innings against Georgia State on May 2.

Texas State enters the tournament winners of eight of its last 11 games. The Bobcats’ offense is led by left fielder Blake Beheler, who drove in two runs in the finale at Appalachian State. Catcher Austin Smith has a .324 average with 10 home runs.

Louisiana-Lafayette has won eight of its last 11. The Ragin’ Cajuns’ lineup features designated hitter Steven Spalitta, who homered and drove in four runs against Coastal Carolina on Wednesday. Catcher Colt Brown went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in that game.

The Sun Belt Championship continues through Sunday. The winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.