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SAN MARCOS – Texas State will host the team's final home series of the season this weekend against a team the Bobcats have never faced: UALR. Texas State will celebrate Senior Day before Sunday's game.
 
Game Info: Texas State (27-21, 15-9 SBC) vs. UALR (21-27, 7-17 SBC)
Site: Bobcat Ballpark – San Marcos, Texas
Date: Friday-Sunday, May 9-11
Time: Friday – 6:30 p.m. | Saturday – 3 p.m. | Sunday – 1 p.m.
 
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday: #31 RHP Austen Williams (7-1, 3.15) vs. #42 LHP Travis McDonald (2-6, 4.82)
Saturday: #32 RHP Taylor Black (5-4, 3.07) vs. #20 RHP Sam Thoele (0-2, 3.15)
Sunday: #21 RHP Lucas Humpal (4-4, 3.28) vs. #17 RHP Cameron Allen (4-5, 4.41)
 
The Series                                                                                                  
This series marks the first meeting between the Bobcats and UALR. Texas State enters the series coming off a three-game sweep of Troy last weekend while UALR has lost its last two games and three of the team's last four. The Bobcats have played all of the same opponents UALR has in conference play, earning a 15-9 record while the Trojans stand at 7-17. The Bobcats are currently tied for second place in the conference while UALR is last.
 
On the Trojans
Troy's Friday and Saturday starters are regulars and have combined for a 6-11 season record, but the team's Saturday pitcher will be a bit of a new starter. Sam Thoele, a righty, is 0-2 on the season but has one of the team's best ERAs and the best of the weekend trio at 3.15. He has thrown 34 strikeouts and 23 walks.
 
The top batter for UALR this season is Ben Crumpton. He is batting .310 on the season followed by Tanner Rockwell at .305. Rockwell has hit team-highs in doubles (13) and home runs (six) and also leads the squad in RBI with 38. He leads the team in slugging percentage as well. Crumpton is dangerous around the bases, stealing 28 on 31 attempts.
 
On the Bobcats
Texas State seemed to hit its stride against Troy last weekend and will look to do the same against a new set of Trojans this weekend.
 
The Bobcats have been dangerous in conference play this year, especially Garrett Mattlage and Cory Geisler. Mattlage is hitting .379 against conference opponents while Geisler is at .370. The duo have combined for 63 hits, nine doubles, four home runs, 35 bases and 15 walks against the SBC. Meanwhile, freshman Granger Studdard is tied with Mattlage in conference RBI with both at 25. Studdard leads the team in home runs on the season and has hit all six against SBC opponents.
 
Texas State's pitching staff has been just as impressive in conference action, pitching to a 2.97 ERA as a staff. Taylor Black leads the weekend starters with a 2.88 ERA against the SBC while Lucas Humpal isn't far behind at 2.92. Austen Williams is second in the conference in strikeouts on the season and has 55 in the SBC. Conference opponents are hitting a mere .225 against Humpal, .242 against Williams and .264 against Black.
 
Meanwhile, Dylan Bein has been on point in relief in conference play, pitching 10.1 innings with seven strikeouts, three walks and just four hits with only one going for extra bases. SBC opponents are only hitting .118 against him and he owns a 0.00 ERA with two saves.
 
A Look Ahead
Texas State will head up to Austin for the midweek, the team's last game at Texas this season. After that, the Bobcats will travel to UT Arlington for the final series of the regular season before going to Mobile, Ala., for the Sun Belt Conference Championship Tournament.