SAN MARCOS, Texas – The first five games over a six-day period for Texas State (4-2) take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. First up will be a trip to San Antonio to take on Incarnate Word (3-4) at 6:30 p.m. at Sullivan Field and then facing Sam Houston (5-3) at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
Both games will be streamed on ESPN+ while Tuesday's game can also be heard on KTSW 89.9 FM with Brant Freeman on the call.
 
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Tuesday: TXST RHP Colby Diaz (First Game) vs. UIW RHP EJ. Garcia (0-1, 6.35 ERA)
Wednesday: TXST TBD vs. SH TBD
 
ABOUT TEXAS STATE
After a historic start to the season over opening weekend, the offense sputtered in a series loss to Oral Roberts. The Bobcats managed just 11 hits in the series with five of them being home runs, of which three were solo shots. This upcoming week sees TXST play four times on the road, and it is the only time the team plays away from Bobcat Ballpark until Mar. 24 at Coastal Carolina.
 
Jose Gonzalez leads the team with a .500 batting average, 10 hits, 12 RBI and two stolen bases. His three homers are tied for the team lead with Ryder Hernandez and Chase Mora. Batting .357 is Cade Manning while Daylan Pena comes in with nine RBI, two round trippers and a .300 average.
 
Making his collegiate debut on the mound will be freshman Colby Diaz.
 
Triston Dixon (7.20 ERA, 4 K) and Tony Robie (1-0, 2.08 ERA) have both made a team-high three relief appearances. Jack Stroud leads all Texas State relievers with six strikeouts having done so over 3.2 innings.
 
ABOUT INCARNATE WORD
The Cardinals are coming off two victories in Corpus Christi at the Kleberg Bank College Classic with wins over Houston and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. UIW is 1-3 at home this season with the lone victory being the second game of the opening series against SIUE. Last Tuesday saw the team fall 3-1 to Tarleton State in the lone midweek game of the season thus far.
 
Wilson Ehrhardt leads the Cardinals with a .385 average, seven RBI and three doubles. He shares the squad lead of two home runs with Daniel Calabrese, Jimmy De Leon and Joe Jiminez. Batting .345 with five RBI is Houston transfer Rey Mendoza.
 
Making his second straight midweek start on the rubber will be E.J. Garcia. The freshman from New Braunfels, Texas is 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in two games. He has struck out five with no walks in 5.2 innings. The right-hander went three frames last week against the Texans.
 
Otto Stacey ahs a team-high four relief appearances. In that time, he has recorded a 1.29 ERA and struck out eight in seven innings. Coming out of the bullpen three times has been Seth Bigdon (0-1, 4.26 ERA) and Ryan Schlotzhauer (18.00 ERA, 3 K).
 
SERIES VS. CARDINALS
Texas State leads the all-time series over UIW 26-11. Last season the teams played twice with the home team claiming the victory each time. The Bobcats are 4-4 when playing the Cardinals on the road and have dropped the last four meetings. The last win in the Alamo City was a doubleheader sweep on Feb. 20, 1991 by scores of 2-0 and 2-1.
 
ABOUT SAM HOUSTON
This past weekend saw the Bearkats go 2-1 at the Karbach Classic in Round Rock, Texas with wins over Iowa and Kansas State before falling to No. 1 LSU in the finale. Sam Houston lost its lone true road game of the season to Rice last Wednesday. Prior to facing TXST, the Bearkats will host Rice Tuesday night.
 
Four players are hitting at least .400 led by Jake Tatom at .462. The other three are Tyler Davis (.400), Walker Janek (.400, 9 RBI) and Joe Redfield (.423, 7 R). A team leading 11 RBI belongs to Easton Loyd while both Clayton Chadwick and Lane Brewster have hit a team best three homers.
 
Wednesday's starter is still to be decided.
 
The lone save for the Bearkats was earned by Braden Davis. The lefty has yet to allow a run in 3.2 innings, has struck out seven and sports a 0.27 WHIP. Alex Magers (3.38 ERA, 8 K) has made a team-high four relief appearances.
 
SERIES VS. BEARKATS
Wednesday will be the 107 meeting between Texas State and Sam Houston and both teams have won 53 games in the all-time series. Last year saw the Bobcats fall on the road 12-9 and they have dropped eight of the last nine contests.
 
The last time the teams played in San Marcos was Feb. 28, 2017 that ended with a Bearkat 7-4 win. TXST is 24-25 all-time when hosting Sam Houston with the last win being a 13-2 run-rule victory in seven innings in the Southland Conference Tournament on May 27, 2011.
 
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