This weekend in the Sun Belt

Louisiana at Troy is the featured series this weekend in Sun Belt play.  But, this time of the year, every series is crucial.  And, with logjams everywhere in the standings, the last nine games for each team will be interesting.

Besides the Cajuns and Trojans, here are the scheduled series for this weekend:

FLORIDA ATLANTIC (13-8) AT WESTERN KENTUCKY (12-9)

WKU snapped a four game conference losing streak by taking the last two games at ULM last weekend.  They'll face an FAU club fresh off a series win over Troy in Boca Raton.  WKU has six in a row at home with South Alabama coming into Nick Denes Field next weekend.  They close at Middle Tennessee, where the Blue Raiders have played solid baseball in league play.  FAU could be in position to make a charge with a series win here.  They host last place UALR next weekend before their showdown with FIU.

FIU (13-8) at Middle Tennessee (7-14)

FIU is starting to hit the ball, and that's not good news for the rest of the league.  The Panthers have won eight straight conference games and have the schedule in their favor, playing their final six league games at home against Arkansas State and FAU.  They won't have it easy this weekend against an improving Middle Tennessee team that has won every SBC series that they've hosted.   Every game is crucial to the Raiders as they fight with ULM and UALR for what appears to be the final spot in the tournament.  They travel to Louisiana and host WKU.  Pretty formidable.

ARKANSAS STATE (10-11) at SOUTH ALABAMA (9-12)

The Red Wolves have won six of their last seven conference games to get some separation from the bottom teams and have moved past the slumping Jaguars into sixth place in the league.  The next six will be tough for Tommy Raffo's club, who have to go to Miami next weekend before returning home for UALR in the finale.  USA has lost five straight conference games and still must go to Bowling Green next week before entertaining Troy in the final weekend.  Big weekend for South playing at home.

ULM (7-11) at UALR (6-12)

THe Warhawks got only one win at home last weekend against WKU and make their final conference road trip of the season against the Trojans who have lost nine straight conference games.  UALR, the series against FIU notwithstanding, have been tough to beat at Gary Hogan Field and if the Trojans have any hope of making the tournament, they almost need a sweep this weekend.  UALR hasn't won a road game in the league and travel to FAU and Arkansas State in the final two weekends.  ULM gets the final two at home, albeit against two of the league's best teams in Troy and Louisiana.  Looks like the battle for eighth between UALR, ULM and MTSU could come down to the final weekend.