MESA, Ariz. (Interstat) — The Western Athletic Conference baseball championship will be decided Saturday, May 23, when top-seeded Tarleton State (36-19) faces seed Sacramento State (29-31) at a neutral site here.

The Texans, who own the league’s best record, enter riding a two-game win streak after eliminating California Baptist 5-3 on Friday. Their offense has been potent throughout the season, but third baseman Raphael Smeenk stands out as a game-changer. Smeenk blasted two home runs and drove in two runs against the Lancers on Friday, marking his second multi-homer performance in 10 days. He also homered May 16 against Sacramento State, though Tarleton lost that game 8-4. Overall, Smeenk is hitting .333 (5 for 15) in his last four contests with three home runs and five RBIs.

Sacramento State, the tournament’s surprise team, advanced Saturday by defeating California Baptist 12-7. The Hornets’ offense has been fueled by designated hitter Ryan Ellis, who went 3 for 4 with two RBIs in Friday’s win. Ellis has been on a tear, collecting multiple hits in four of his last five games and producing seven RBIs over that span. In the previous three meetings between these teams, Ellis collected four hits with two RBIs, including a 1-for-5 performance in a win over Tarleton on May 16.

The series has been competitive and lopsided by turns. The Hornets won two of three at home from May 14-16, taking games by scores of 8-5, 8-4 and losing 15-4. But Tarleton responded with a 9-0 shutout in the regular-season finale on May 21, a game in which Smeenk went 0 for 3 but still drove in a run.

Saturday’s game marks the first neutral-site meeting between the programs. The winner secures the WAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Tarleton will turn to right-hander Ethan Wendel (7-2, 3.12 ERA), who threw 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball on Friday. Sacramento State counters with Sean Carey (5-4, 4.45), who tossed two scoreless innings in relief Friday with four strikeouts.

First pitch is set for 3 p.m. PDT. Weather is forecast to be clear with temperatures in the mid-80s.