SAN MARCOS, Texas — To many, last year's meeting with Texas A&M felt like a crown jewel that slipped through the Bobcats' grasp as Texas State had potential go-ahead run-scoring opportunities in both the fifth and seventh innings. 

But Texas State has used that fuel to spark a 17-game winning streak — one short of the program's all-time record of 18 set during the 2001 season — and a 24-3 mark heading into Tuesday night's game against the Aggies (25-8) that begins at 6 p.m. CT. Brant Freeman and Cat Osterman will call the game's action on ESPN+. 

WHO TO WATCH: Meagan King

Meagan King has walked three of the 171 batters she's faced in 43.2 innings pitched so far this season. She did not walk a single batter in 12.1 innings of action against Coastal Carolina last week nor did she allow a free pass in her complete game win at Georgia State before that. Her last walk was a full-court, one-out free pass in the bottom of the sixth at App State on March 21, 2021, which is a stretch of 21.0 innings pitched without issuing a walk. In last year's meeting with Texas A&M, King threw three scoreless innings of relief and scattered only three hits during her time in the circle.  

INSIDE THE SERIES: Texas A&M

• Texas A&M holds a 65-10 advantage in the series' history, including a 23-6 mark over Texas State in games played in San Marcos. 
• Texas A&M was the final opponent for Texas State during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season when the Aggies knocked off the Bobcats, 2-1, at Davis Diamond in College Station on Wednesday, March 11. The remainder of the 2020 NCAA Division I Softball was canceled the next day due to the forthcoming COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Tuesday's game will be just the 30th time in the series history Texas A&M has traveled to San Marcos to play Texas State at Bobcat Softball Stadium. The last time coming on April 27, 2016 when TAMU winning 6-3. 
• Feb. 18, 2009 was the last time Texas State not only beat Texas A&M but also won in San Marcos as the Bobcats beat the Aggies 3-2. 

HOME SWEET HOME

Even with all the wild cards being played around the world, the Texas State softball fans have stayed faithful to its program. Through 18 home games this season, the Bobcats have an accumulated attendance of 4,544, which is the second-most by a non-Power Five school behind Jacksonville State's 4,594. That figure is good enough for the 14th-highest across all Division I softball. The 252 fan per game average is the 26th-best mark in the country, too. 

CALLING LONG DISTANCE

Since not hitting a home run in its Sun Belt Conference opener at App State on March 21, the Texas State offense has been using its phone to call long distance as the Bobcats have hit at least one home run in its last eight straight games, including their last seven straight conference games. Of its eight games with multiple home runs in the same game, Texas State has accomplished that feat three times against SBC foes.