PITCHING PROBABLES
A-State: RHP
Carter Holt (4-3, 5.10 ERA, 60.0 IP, 39 K)
Troy: LHP Kyle Gamble (2-2, 4.91 ERA, 25.2 IP, 27 K)
LEADING OFF
- The 2021 campaign marks the program's 74th season with the Red Wolves amassing a 1,352-1,668-10 all-time record dating back to the 1948 season.
- The Red Wolves are taking on Troy to open Pool D play in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Tuesday at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Ala. Carter Holt is set to make his first start in nine days, with his last start resulting in a win over Troy.
- Ben Klutts earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors while Tyler Duncan was named to the second team. FULL RELEASE
- A-State has won two games in eight of its nine trips to the Sun Belt Tournament under Tommy Raffo, including every year from 2010-17. MORE ON PAGE 3.
- Troy took two of three in the season series, with the Red Wolves salvaging the third game. In the all-time series, Troy owns a 36-15 lead - 5-4 in SBC Tournament action. MORE ON PAGE 3.
- Liam Hicks was added to the Buster Posey Award Watch List, which awards the top catcher in college baseball. Hicks has reached base in 53 of his 55 career games at Arkansas State, and leads the Sun Belt in on-base percentage (.471). He enters the tournament inside the top five in the Sun Belt in five offensive categories. MORE ON PAGE 3.
- A-State enters the week first in the conference in runs per game (6.2) and on-base percentage (.365), third in total runs scored (291) and second in homers (55). MORE ON PAGE 7.
- Drew Tipton is rising up the Arkansas State career charts in multiple categories. Tipton also ranks inside the top 50 among the NCAA's active career leaders in six statistics. MORE ON PAGE 7.
TOURNEY TIME!
- Arkansas State is looking to continue its success in Sun Belt Conference tournament play this weekend. The Red Wolves have made nine trips to the league tourney under Tommy Raffo's watch, winning two games in eight of those nine visits. A-State was and still is the only team in the league to win at least two games eight years in a row, while being five outs away from winning the title in 2012.
- A-State owns a 16-14 record in Sun Belt Tournament play under Raffo, after going 12-27 before he took over prior to the 2009 season. All-time, the Red Wolves are 28-41 in Sun Belt Tournament action.
LIAM *STIX*
- Liam Hicks owns a Sun Belt-best on-base percentage of .471, reaching base in 53 of 55 games in his A-State career including his first 31 before not reaching on 4/10 at Louisiana. His batting average of .349 also ranks third in the league. He has reached base in 22 of the last 23 games.
- On April 14, Hicks was named No. 23 on D1 Baseball's Top 100 Draft-Eligible Hitters using analytics - the highest-ranked of four Sun Belt hitters. The list evaluated on a scale of 50-100 hitters' plate discipline (Hicks: 90.01), hit ability (ability to hit/get on base: 88.80) and game power (XBH; power in-game: 77.26).
*HOLT*ING IT DOWN
- Carter Holt has been strong on the mound for Arkansas State on Sundays, tossing four straight quality starts for the Red Wolves in his last five outings.
- In his last eight starts, the Red Wolves are 7-1, while Holt owns a 3.68 ERA and a 4-1 record. Holt has pitched 44.0 innings, striking out 29 and walking 12 during that span.
- The Jackson, Tennessee, native is making his first start since May 16, when he earned a win at Troy.
PDF Game Notes
