Baseball | 2/12/2015 3:01:00 PM

SAN MARCOS – Texas State will host the team's season-opening series against UC Davis this Valentine's weekend at Bobcat Ballpark. The two teams will start the season with a three-game series in the first meetings ever between the teams.
 
Tailgating Information: Bobcat fans who wish to tailgate along Charles Austin will have the opportunity to do so this season. Tailgaters should take note, though:
     -  Do not tailgate in the street
     -  Do not block or setup on the driveway to the dog park
     -  Do not block the access on the sidewalk
     -  Tents and chairs are acceptable on the grassy area
 
Game Info: Texas State vs. UC Davis
Site: Bobcat Ballpark – San Marcos, Texas
Date: Friday-Sunday, February 13-15
Time: Friday – 6 p.m. | Saturday – 1 p.m. | Sunday – 12 p.m.
 
Probable Pitching Matchups*
Friday: #21 RHP Lucas Humpal (4-6, 3.76) vs. #11 RHP Spencer Koopmans (4-3, 2.84)
Saturday: #36 RHP Scott Grist (5-2, 4.56) vs. #32 LHP Orlando Razo (2-4, 1.34)
Sunday: #9 LHP Cory Geisler (3-1, 1.97) vs. #12 RHP Raul Jacobson (4-1, 3.45)
     * Pitching statistics based on 2014 season, except for Grist's. Those are his 2013 stats.
 
The Series                                                                                                  
This series marks the first meetings between the Bobcats and UC Davis. Texas State played one California school last season, sweeping UC Riverside. Against West Coast teams in 2014, the Bobcats went 4-2 with a 1-2 series on the road at Washington State. Under Head Coach Ty Harrington, Texas State is 10-5 in season openers and 5-3 in season home openers.
 
On the Aggies
The Aggies of UC Davis went 23-31 last season and 7-17 in the Big West Conference, finishing in seventh. They have 19 returning lettermen, four starters and one returning pitcher with nine newcomers. The Aggies will be pitching righty, lefty, righty with a senior, sophomore and junior weekend rotation.
 
Head Coach Matt Vaughn has been at the helm for four seasons, but has a long-standing career as an assistant at UC Davis, even graduating from the university in 1992. He is 69-98 as a head coach and finished off 2014 on a three-game losing streak.
 
On the Bobcats
Texas State will be looking to bounce back from losing four Bobcats to the Major League Baseball Draft last season, three of which were juniors. The team's top hitter, Garrett Mattlage, along with two of the team's top pitcher in Austen Williams and Taylor Black were selected by Major League teams with senior Tyler Pearson also being drafted.
 
This weekend, Lucas Humpal, the only remaining pitcher from last season's weekend rotation, will take the mound on Friday. Scott Grist will follow on Saturday and Cory Geisler will come in from centerfield to finish the weekend off on Sunday.
 
The Bobcats look to be more athletic defensively and along the base paths this season. Speed on the bases combined with what may be more power at the plate could lead to an uptick in offense for Texas State. While the team lost two of its top pitcher, Humpal returns to lead a group of arms that has depth. Grist brings experience as a redshirt senior while Geisler led the team in ERA last season.
 
A Look Ahead
After UC Davis, the Bobcats will host Sam Houston State at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The Bearkats, an NCAA Tournament team in 2014, should be an early test for Texas State before they travel to face Wichita State next weekend.