Baseball | 4/6/2015 7:46:00 PM

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State is coming off an impressive sweep of Big 12 opponent Baylor for the team's first ever three-game series sweep over a Big 12 opponent this past weekend. The Bobcats will look to keep momentum rolling when they host Incarnate Word for the midweek at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
 
Game Info: Texas State (15-15-1) vs. Incarnate Word (11-19)
Site: Bobcat Ballpark – San Marcos, Texas
Dates: Tuesday, April 7
Times: 6 p.m.
 
Probable Pitching Matchup
#13 RHP Montana Parsons (0-3, 4.40 ERA) vs. #30 RHP Kris Looper (0-3, 7.61 ERA)
 
The Series
Texas State has an overwhelming advantage in the series against Incarnate Word, standing 19-9 all time, but the teams haven't played since March 23, 2004. That was a Bobcat win at home, 8-2.
 
While the Bobcats swept Baylor, the Cardinals are coming into this game off being swept by Nicholls State. Incarnate Word has dropped six of the team's last eight games.
 
On the Cardinals
While Incarnate Word has dropped six of the team's last eight, the tough stretch actually lasts a bit longer. The Cardinals have fallen in 12 of the last 17 games and have a 4-11 record this year on the road.
 
The expected starter, Kris Looper, has a 7.61 ERA and is 0-3 in six starts. Opponents are hitting .371 against the senior transfer from Alvin Community College. He has 12 strikeouts and eight walks while giving up 39 hits for 21 runs (20 earned) in 23.2 innings pitched this season.
 
At the plate, Incarnate Word is led by Matt Morris, the team leader in hits with 34. He is batting .291, but teammate Ethan McGill is at .320 with just one less hit on the year. Austin Hoffman leads the team in RBI with 18 on 29 hits on the year. The Cardinals have 10 home runs to opponents' 19 and are hitting .246 as a squad compared to .308 for their opponents.
 
On the Bobcats
Texas State has been rolling in the past three games and has won four of the team's last five games. With the team's last victory over Baylor, the Bobcats improved to .500 on the season and currently stand at 15-15-1 overall.
 
Freshman catcher Jared Huber stepped up in the last series, knocking six RBI throughout the weekend and hitting .444 with an on-base percentage of .583 for the series. The Bobcats are getting good contributions from their younger players. Luke Sherley hit .400 with three RBI and two runs scored over the weekend.
 
However, it's still David Paiz leading the way for the Bobcats with a team-high 33 hits on the year. Granger Studdard and Cedric Vallieres aren't far behind with 32 and 28 hits respectively, but they both also have six home runs apiece to help Texas State to 20 on the season so far, five more than their opponents. Vallieres leads the squad in RBI with 19 and in runs scored with 28, 12 more than any other Bobcat.
 
Montana Parsons will get his fifth start of the season Tuesday night. He has a 4.40 ERA and has struck out 16 batters to just five walks in 28.2 innings pitched.
 
A Look Ahead
After Incarnate Word, the Bobcats will return to Sun Belt Conference action with a series at UALR. Upon the team's return, Texas State will host UTSA yet again on April 14 followed by a conference series against UL Lafayette before traveling to Texas for a midweek.