• The Red Wolves are now 37-36 in season openers after last year's season opening shutout over Illinois State. Bradey Welsh tied his career high with 7.22 innings and only allowed on hit with a career-high eight strikeouts against one walk to earn the win. In the season opener the Red Wolves only had two hits on the night, but both came from MacDonald with his fourth-inning long ball providing the team's only run off of Illinois State.
•A-State has opened at home in five of the season openers under head coach Tommy Raffo with a 4-1 record in those contest. A-State is 1-2 in road season openers and is eight from 1964 to 1971, while its longest streak is seven from1976 to 1962.
"PRESEASON PITCHES"
• Arkansas State Senior first baseman Kyle MacDonald was named the 2019 Sun Belt Preseason Player of the year, after leading the Red Wolves in a number of offensive categories including runs (50), hits (66), homers (15) RBI (50), totalbases (127).
• MacDonald posted a team-high .464 on-base percentage which was the best in the league. His .665 slugging percentage was ranked first in the Sun Belt, 22nd in the nation and seventh best in school history.
• The Red Wolves were picked fifth in the West Division of the leagues' Coach-es Poll. Coastal Carolina received 12 first place votes to win the East with 72 points. South Alabama was chosen to finish runner-up in the division with 52 points, followed by Troy in third with 48 points. Georgia Southern trailed in fourth (24 points), Georgia State in fifth (24 points) and Appalachian State insixth (13 points).
• Louisiana was the favorite to win the West with 11 first-place voted and 71 points, while Texas State followed in second with 55 points. Little Rock was picked third with one first place vote and 48 points. UT Arlington was picked fourth (36 points), Arkansas State fifth (24 points) and ULM sixth (18 points).
"THE MAC"
• Arkansas State Senior first baseman Kyle MacDonald was named the 2019 Sun Belt Preseason Player of the year, after leading the Red Wolves in a number of offensive categories including runs (50), hits (66), homers (15) RBI (50), totalbases (127).
• He posted a team-high .464 on-base percentage which was best in the league. His .665 slugging percentage was first in the Sun Belt, 22nd in the nation andseventh best in school history.
• The Mississauga, Ontario, native played and started in 51 of the teams 52 games, earning Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year honors and second team all-conference honors. He also picked up All-Central Region First Team honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) to become the 12th player at A-State to earn the award.
•MacDonald was named to 2019 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Watch List.
• In 2018, he led the team in multiple-hit games with 20 and multiple-RBI games with 12 ... ended the season with an 11-game on-base streak ... posted season-high four hits in two games at Missouri (March 21) and at ULM (March 24) ... hit two home runs in back-to-back games versus Ole Miss (May 15) and at Little Rock (May 17) ... hit two doubles against Coastal Carolina March 17
... recorded eight total bases three times in games at ULM (March 24), versus Ole Miss (May 15), and at Little Rock (May 17) ... knocked in four runs versusCoastal Carolina March 17 and at Georgia State April 7 ... scored a season-bestthree runs four times and also walked three times in four different games ... was intentionally walked seven times.
