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SAN MARCOS – Texas State will look to bounce back in the midweek after a 1-2 weekend in conference action against South Alabama. It will be a tough task though with No. 8 Houston on the schedule.
 
Game Info: Texas State (18-13) at No. 8 Houston (25-6)
Site: Cougar Field – Houston, Texas
Date: Tuesday, April 7
Time: 6:30 p.m.
 
Probable Pitching Matchups
Tuesday: #34 RHP Dylan Bein (0-2, 2.81) vs. #38 RHP David Longville (0-0, 3.54)
 
The Series                                                                                                  
Texas State has a long history against the Houston, but the Cougars are on top in that history, 27-15. Since Head Coach Ty Harrington has taken over, though, the Bobcats are 11-11 in the series.
 
Houston traveled to San Marcos for a weekend series last season. The Bobcats struck first blood with a 6-1 victory in the series opener, but the Cougars came back to win two close ones, 1-0, 4-2, in the final two games of the series. In the series finale, Mattlage led the Bobcats with a 3-for-5 performance.
 
This game will mark Texas State's fifth meeting against a ranked opponent this season.
 
On the Cougars
Houston enters the game ranked No. 8 nationally after winning two consecutive games on the road, but have won five of the team's last six and 10 of the team's last 12 games. So far this season, the Cougars are an impressive 18-2 at home.
 
The Cougars aren't playing too many position players with only 13 players logging an at bat this season. Five of those players are batting .304 or higher led by Michael Pyeatt at .318. Kyle Survance has had the most at bats for Houston this season and boasts a .317 batting average with 39 hits, 15 RBI, two triples and five doubles. The leading RBI-hitter is Casey Grayson with 21 on the season and a team-high three home runs.
 
Texas State's bats will have their work cut out for them as Houston's pitching staff carries a 1.79 earned run average. Only two Cougars are above a 3.00, and, fortunately for Texas State, one of those is David Longville, the likely starter against Texas State. He doesn't give very many free bases though as he has only walked one in 20.1 innings pitched while striking out 17.
 
On the Bobcats
Austin O'Neal currently leads the Texas State bats with a .314 batting average. He has stepped into first base for the Bobcats and knocked 16 hits in 51 at bats with three doubles and eight RBI. He has also earned five walks and one hit by pitch for an on-base percentage of .386.
 
Outside of him, it's the usual suspects at the top of the lineup: Matt Smith (.296), Garrett Mattlage (.288) and Granger Studdard (.267).
 
Dylan Bein will receive the start for Texas State and could be angling for that open position of fourth starter on the Bobcat squad. He has a sub 3.00 ERA at 2.81 and has struck out 26 batters to 10 walks in his freshman season. In 25.2 innings, the freshman from Cedar Park has only given up 11 hits. Opponents are hitting .237 against him.
 
A Look Ahead
After Houston, the Bobcats will stay on the road for a weekend series at UL Monroe with games at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. After another midweek on the road at UTSA, Texas State returns home for Easter weekend to host Georgia State.