SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State (15-23, 5-7 Sun Belt) returns to Sun Belt Conference play this weekend when its hosts Arkansas State (10-20, 5-7 Sun Belt) for a three-game series at Bobcat Ballpark. The series opener on Friday is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch, Saturday's game is slated to start at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday's finale will begin at 12 p.m.
 
Friday's contest will be streamed on ESPN+ with Brant Freeman and Ty Harrington on the call. A radio broadcast on KTSW 89.9 FM will be done on Saturday and Sunday, and live stats will be available for the entire series.
 
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: Zachary Leigh (2-5, 5.54 ERA) vs. Brandon Hudson (2-0, 5.06 ERA)
Saturday: Zeke Wood (2-3, 3.60 ERA) vs. Will Nash (1-4, 5.72 ERA)
Sunday: TBD vs. Carter Hold (2-2, 6.00 ERA)
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Bobcats fell to second-ranked Texas 5-1 in the final home midweek game of the season at Bobcat Ballpark. TXST was limited to just three hits that came off the bats of Chase Evans, Dalton Shuffield and Justin Thompson. With his hit, Evans extended his hitting streak to nine games. On the mound, Tony Robie struck out a career-high six Longhorns to double his previous strikeout high.
 
ABOUT TEXAS STATE
Justin Thompson leads Texas State with a .308 batting average, 45 hits, 21 runs scored, five home runs and 32 RBI. In conference play, Jose Gonzalez is hitting a team best .348 with nine runs scored and eight doubles.
 
Zachary Leigh will be making his 14th straight weekend series opening start on Friday. The senior is 2-5 with a 5.54 ERA and is tied for seventh on the conference with 51 strikeouts. Zeke Wood is scheduled to start on Saturday and enters with a 2-3 record, 3.60 ERA and 41 walks. Sunday's starter is still to be announced.
 
ABOUT ARKANSAS STATE
Arkansas State comes in having lost six of its last eight games with both wins coming in the last two weekend series finales against Louisiana and UT Arlington. On Tuesday, the Red Wolves fell on the road 5-3 to Central Arkansas in the first of eight straight road games. ASU is tied with TXST in the West Division with a 5-7 record and two games out of first place.
 
Liam Hicks leads the Red Wolves with a .378 batting average. The catcher/first baseman has scored 16 runs, driven in 13, hit six doubles and two home runs. Tyler Duncan is the only other player on the team hitting over .300 at .316 while leading the squad with 37 hits, 32 RBI, 29 runs, eight doubles and six home runs.
 
Recording four homers apiece as been Sky-Lar Culver, Jaylon Deshazier, Jake Gish and Drew Tipton.
 
ASU will run out three right-handers to start each game. First up will be Brandon Hudson, who is 2-0 with a 5.06 ERA, 20 walks and 19 strikeouts over 26.2 innings spanning nine appearances including four starts. Will Nash gets the call on Saturday and comes in 1-4 with a 5.72 ERA and 20 strikeouts. Rounding out the rotation is Carter Holt. He sports a 2-2 record, 6.00 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 36 innings.
 
Josh Albat has the lowest ERA on the staff at 5.00 having thrown nine innings in 10 relief appearances. Kollin Stone (0-1, 5.54 ERA) has recorded four saves and Jack Jumper (1-2, 6.65 ERA) has earned two.
 
SERIES VS. THE RED WOLVES
Leading the all-time series is Arkansas State at 13-9. Texas State swept the Red Wolves the last time the teams met on Apr. 18-20, 2019 in San Marcos. The Bobcats capped off the series with a 3-run walk-off home run by Ryan Newman in the 10th for a 7-6 victory. TXST is 4-6 all-time when hosting ASU.
 
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