SAN MARCOS, Texas – Sun Belt Conference play begins this weekend when the 15th-ranked Texas State baseball team (15-3) travels to take on Arkansas State with games played at Tomlinson Stadium.
 
Friday's game is slated to begin at 6 p.m. Saturday's contest will see first pitch at 2 p.m. and the series finale on Sunday starts at 12 p.m.
 
There will not be a video stream or radio for the series. Live stats will be available.
 
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: TXST RHP Zeke Wood (2-1) vs. ASU LHP Justin Medlin (0-2)
Saturday: TXST RHP Levi Wells (2-0) vs. ASU RHP Will Nash (1-0)
Sunday: TXST RHP Tony Robie (2-0) vs. ASU RHP Carter Holt (0-1)
 
RANKED!
After going 4-1 last week that included a win at #1 Texas on the road, Texas State entered all six major baseball polls. The Bobcats' highest rank is #15 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll. Last week saw them enter the poll at #17, the team's previous best ranking ever, following a series victory at #11 Arizona. TXST also achieved its highest ranking in the Baseball America (#22), NCBWA (#26) and Perfect Game (#21) polls. It was also the first time ever the program has been ranked in the D1Baseball (#22) and USA Today Coaches (#23) polls.
 
ABOUT TEXAS STATE
The Bobcats enter the weekend having won five straight and 13 of the last 15 with the two losses coming to #11 Arizona and #1 Texas. Dalton Shuffield leads the team at the plate with a .413 average, 26 hits, 22 runs, 18 RBI, 13 walks and nine stolen bases. He has also hit four doubles and home runs. Justin Thompson is batting .344 and John Wuthrich comes in hitting .342 with a team-high six doubles and five homers.
 
Zeke Wood comes in 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA and leads the Sun Belt with 35 strikeouts will get the start on Friday. Levi Wells (2-0, 1.37 ERA) gets the ball on Saturday and has struck out 28 in 19.2 innings. Tony Robie (2-0, 5.60 ERA) is slated to start the series finale.
 
Coming out of the bullpen, Tristan Stivors has recorded four saves and has posted a 0.64 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 14 innings. Matthew Nicholas (1-0, 1.29 ERA) and Carson Keithley (2-0, 2.19 ERA) have made eight and seven relief appearances, respectively.
 
ABOUT ARKANSAS STATE
The Red Wolves comes into the series having lost six straight games after falling to Memphis 9-7 on Tuesday. All four of their victories have come at home with two each against Illinois State and Mississippi Valley State.
 
Five ASU players are batting over .300 led by Jacob Hager at .361. Ben Klutts and Jared Toler have scored 12 runs and hit three home runs apiece. Both Jaylon Deshazier and Toler have driven in a team-high 13 runs. The only other player with double-digit RBI is Klutts with 12.
 
Friday's starter will be Justin Medlin, who enters with an 0-2 record, 2.93 ERA and 17 strikeouts. Will Nash (1-0, 10.80 ERA) and Carter Holt (0-1, 10.80 ERA) are scheduled to start on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
 
Recording two saves has been Kevin Wiseman. He sports a 1.35 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 6.1 innings over seven games. Making seven relief appearances has also been Jonathan Baldelli (3.38 ERA, 7 K) and Max Charlton (1.04 ERA, 10 K).
 
SERIES VS. RED WOLVES
Arkansas State leads the all-time series over Texas State 14-11. The Bobcats had won five straight before dropping the series finale last season 12-1 in San Marcos. Last time the teams met in Jonesboro as May 4-6, 2018. TXST lost two of three with the lone victory being a 10-3 contest in the second game. The Bobcats are 3-6 all-time when playing the Red Wolves on the road.
 
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