San Marcos, Texas – Texas State Baseball opens the season this weekend against top competition in Missouri State, Tulane and Sam Houston. The Bobcats will face Missouri State at 2 p.m. Friday, Tulane at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sam Houston at 3 p.m. Sunday at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
“I'm proud and excited to start the season facing high caliber competition,” said Head Coach Ty Harrington. “All three programs are run well and are coached by accomplished coaches.”
 
Add Texas State to the mix and it will be a strong field for opening weekend.
 
The Bobcats are anxious to start playing. Despite losing the top three hitters and top two pitchers from a season ago, there is plenty of optimism around the Texas State program.
 
Longtime catcher Andrew Stumph returns as a leader on the team and will see time in his familiar spot behind the plate as well as at first base to start the season.
 
“Stumph has the most experience on the team, and he's worked hard to reach a different level this season,” said Harrington.
 
Infielders Garrett Mattlage and Nick Smelser, who combined for 70 hits, 42 runs and 28 RBI last season, also return to bolster the lineup along with .304 hitter Colby Targun and healthy centerfielder Morgan Mickan.
 
In addition to Stumph, Mickan provides more leadership on the team. He'll lead off to start the season and is already the pulse of the team, according to Harrington.
 
Kyle Finnegan, Taylor Black and Scott Grist will get the first opportunities to start on the mound this season. Finnegan played the most of the three last season, logging 93.1 innings, but Grist posted the lowest earned run average, a 2.08.
 
Finnegan brings plenty of power with a strong breaking ball. His athleticism and experience should help him on the mound. Meanwhile, Grist has returned to his more natural throwing motion and it's proving to be more successful.
 
Fan favorite Hunter Lemke will assume the role of closer this season. In 2012 he posted the lowest ERA on the squad at 1.25 and only allowed three earned runs in 21.2 innings, striking out 15 batters.
 
“Hunter has grown into our closer,” said Harrington. “He has the physical and emotional weapons to get big, tough outs in tense, high-pressure situations for us.”
 
In addition to the three starters and Lemke, fans can look forward to redshirt freshman Andrew Boes and senior Mitchell Pitts earning innings along with Jeremy Hallonquist, who is returning from injury
 
Covey Morrow and Donnie Hart will also get their chances against opponents, serving as lefty specialists while Austen Williams might see some time. The coaching staff is pleased with how he is throwing this preseason.
 
Cory Geisler and Austin O'Neal are two newcomers that will also have a chance to play some innings for Texas State. Geisler, just a freshman, should see time in left field, but can also play first base, along with O'Neal.
 
Catcher Tyler Pearson, a transfer from Rice, may get the opportunity to relieve Stumph behind the plate. His ability to play the position at a high level allows Harrington to move Stumph to first in situations.
 
While there may have been more turnover headed into this season than Texas State fans are used to, this new group of Bobcats have bonded together throughout the preseason and that bond should lead to plenty of team success in 2013.