Baseball | 4/28/2016 1:00:00 PM

SAN MARCOS – The Bobcats return home after a tough stretch of five road games to host Sun Belt Conference opponent Troy this weekend with games at 6 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 12 p.m. Sunday.
 
Series Info: Texas State vs. Troy
Site: Bobcat Ballpark – San Marcos, Texas
Dates: Friday, April 29 – Sunday, May 1
Time: Friday – 6 p.m. | Saturday – 3 p.m. | Sunday – 12 p.m.
 
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday: #21 RHP Lucas Humpal (5-3, 2.90 ERA) vs. #26 RHP Grant Bennett (6-2, 1.84 ERA)
Saturday: #9 LHP Cory Geisler (4-1, 2.23 ERA) vs. #20 RHP Lucas Brown (5-3, 2.97 ERA)
Sunday: #34 LHP Jonathan Hennigan (2-2, 3.86 ERA) vs. #45 RHP Houston Mabray (3-1, 3.28 ERA)
 
The Series
The Bobcats and Trojans have only met for two series in their histories, the last two seasons in the Sun Belt Conference. Texas State swept Troy in the first meeting with the Trojans getting revenge last season with a sweep in Troy. The teams are an even 3-3 against each other with Troy never having won in San Marcos.
 
Last Meeting
Texas State dropped the last meeting by a score of 9-6 last season. Granger Studdard homered in the game with four RBIs while Cory Geisler, Cedric Vallieres and Theodore Hoffman each knocked two hits apiece. Blake Whitter led the Bobcats with four strikeouts.
 
On the Trojans
Standing at 23-18 overall and 9-9 in Sun Belt Conference action, Troy has lost its last two games and three of the last four, dropping tow to SBC opponent UT Arlington. Currently sitting just behind Texas State in the SBC standings at fifth, the Trojans are led offensively by T.J. Binder.
 
He is hitting .375 with 16 RBIs, three homers and 36 hits while Matt Sanders is hitting .347 and Brody Binder is at .304, the only Trojans on the team above .300. The RBI leaders are Joey Denison and Trevor Davis with 23 apiece while Chase Smartt has 22. As a team, Troy is hitting .262, edging out the team's opponents this season at .255. Opponents have hit more home runs than Troy, though, with 19 to Troy's 18.
 
The Trojans have been strong on the mound with a 3.56 ERA and four shutouts. They have 11 saves so far this season. While Troy has struck out 287 batters this season, the Trojans have struck out 326 times themselves.
 
On the Bobcats
Texas State pulled off a win at No. 20 UL Lafayette this past weekend to stay in the top half of the Sun Belt Conference standings, currently sitting fourth behind South Alabama, UL Lafayette and Little Rock. The Bobcats are looking to make a move this weekend against Troy.
 
Against Little Rock two weekends ago, Texas State hit .275 in the series with a .370 on-base percentage but gave up a .353 batting average to Little Rock, finishing the weekend with a 6.33 ERA. This past weekend at UL Lafayette, Texas State pitched well, compiling a 2.16 ERA and holding the Ragin' Cajuns to a lowly .207, but hit .163 with just three runs over the series.
 
If the Bobcats can put together their best hitting with their best pitching at the same time, Texas State should be in good shape. The pitching staff that pulled it off this past weekend was Lucas Humpal, Cory Geisler and Jonathan Hennigan. Fans can expect the same trio this weekend.
 
Tanner Hill is leading the team offensively with a .325 batting average, 53 hits, 34 runs, 11 doubles, 13 home runs, 29 RBIs and a .632 slugging percentage. He has been consistent for the Bobcats all season as has Jonathan Ortega and Granger Studdard, the other Bobcats hitting .300 or higher.
 
Texas State is hitting .277 as a squad compared to .250 for opponents and has only struck out 258 times this season compared to 314 for opponents. The highest opponents' batting average against Texas State's starting trio is a mere .241 with Geisler leading the way with a .211 opponent batting average.
 
A Look Ahead
After Troy, the Bobcats will travel to UTSA for this season's third installment of the I-35 Rivalry before returning home to host Georgia State in the last home baseball games of the season before the Sun Belt Conference Championship Tournament on May 25-29.