Baseball | 3/17/2016 10:23:00 AM

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State, currently undefeated in Sun Belt Conference action, will look to stay that way with a three-game home stand against Appalachian State this weekend at Bobcat Ballpark. Friday and Saturday's games are at 3 p.m. and 3 p.m. respectively, but the Mountaineers and Bobcats will meet a bit earlier than usual for the Sunday game at 11 a.m.
 
Game Info: Texas State vs. Appalachian State
Site: Bobcat Ballpark – San Marcos, Texas
Date: Friday, March 18 – Sunday, March 20
Time: Friday – 3 p.m. | Saturday – 3 p.m. | Sunday – 11 a.m.
 
Probable Pitching Matchup
Friday: #21 RHP Lucas Humpal (3-1, 1.69) vs. #14 LHP Bobby Hampton (1-2, 6.75)
Saturday: #27 RHP Jeremy Hallonquist (1-0, 0.82) vs. #22 RHP Seth Hardin (0-3, 7.27)
Sunday: TBA vs. Colin Schmid (0-4, 10.31)
 
The Series                                                                                                  
Texas State and Appalachian State met for the first time last season with the Bobcats taking all three games in the series played in Boone, N.C. The Bobcats won the first game with ease, 8-3, before using late home runs in the second and third game to pull out late victories, 6-4, 6-5.
 
Last Meeting
Lucas Humpal threw a complete game in the Friday meeting, leading the Bobcats to an 8-3 win. In the Saturday game, Cedric Vallieres hit a ninth-inning two-run homer to break a 4-4 tie and clinch the second game for the Bobcats. In the Sunday game, it was Derek Scheible with the timely homer, sending out the solo shot in the eighth inning to ensure a 6-5 victory for the Bobcat. Blake Whitter picked up both a win and a save in the series.
 
On the Mountaineers
Appalachian State is coming off a midweek win at North Carolina A&T, but dropped all three games in last weekend's opening Sun Belt Conference series against Georgia Southern. In fact, the Mountaineers have dropped five of their last seven games and eight of their last 11 games.
 
Tanner Mann-Fix and Colin Schmid are leading the Mountaineers in hitting at .375 and .304 with a18 and 17 hits respectively. Tyler Stroup is the only other Mountaineer with doubled-digit hits with 13 on a .236 batting average. As a squad, the team is only hitting .213 compared to opponents at .276. They have only scored 57 runs this season. For perspective, Texas State has 63 more runs, 69 more hits, 57 more RBIs and 109 more total bases.
 
In addition to being one of the team's best hitters, Schmid is also Appalachian State's Sunday starter with a 10.31 ERA and a 19-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The pitching staff carries a 5.24 ERA with 137 strikeouts to 77 walks. The defense hasn't helped as the Mountaineers have allowed 109 runs, only 85 of which were earned.
 
On the Bobcats
Texas State has been strong early in the season, playing to a 12-5 record. The Bobcats went on a seven-game winning streak before dropping the midweek at UTSA. Texas State was still able to score seven runs and pile up 14 hits, two more than UTSA, in the loss.
 
The offense has been clicking, led by freshman second baseman Jonathan Ortega. He is hitting an eye-popping .408 with 29 hits, seven doubles, two triples and two homers. He leads the team in average, hits and RBIs with 17. He isn't the only one hitting well for the Bobcats though. Nine Bobcats are hitting .304 or better with another at .294. Nine Bobcats have tallied double-digit hits while the team has racked up 59 extra-base hits. Texas State has outscored its opponents, 120-74, so far this season.
 
Texas State's pitching staff has been able to carry its weight as well. Fans have already seen two complete games from Friday night ace Lucas Humpal while Saturday starter Jeremy Hallonquist has only given up two earned runs. Against Hallonquist and Humpal, opponents are hitting just .179 and .196 respectively. As a squad, the Bobcats are holding opponents to a .242 batting average.
 
In addition to the weekend starters, Chase Hodson has been strong in relief with just a 1.54 ERA and 13 strikeouts in just 11.2 innings. Pasquale Mazzoccoli has picked up three saves in eight appearances this season and Cory Geisler is starting to find his stride.
 
A Look Ahead
After Appalachian State, the Bobcats will travel to Edinburg, Texas, to face UT Rio Grande Valley then return home for a Thursday-Saturday series against South Alabama.