SAN MARCOS, Texas – A key weekend series takes Texas State (27-15, 10-8 Sun Belt) to Old Dominion (27-13, 10-8 Sun Belt) as both teams are part of a five-way tie for third in the Sun Belt Conference standings. Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT, followed by a 2 p.m. CT contest on Saturday and a 12 p.m. CT start on Sunday from Bud Metheny Stadium.
 
Fans can watch the entire series on ESPN+.
 
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Tuesday: TXST RHP Levi Wells (6-2, 4.81 ERA) vs. ODU LHP Blake Morgan (3-3, 6.00 ERA)
Friday: TXST RHP Tony Robie (5-1, 4.25 ERA) vs. ODU RHP Sam Armstrong (7-1, 3.19 ERA)
Saturday: TXST RHP Zeke Wood (1-2, 4.67 ERA) vs. ODU TBA
 
ABOUT TEXAS STATE
Heading into the weekend, the Bobcats have won two straight games after taking the series finale at Troy and claiming a midweek game over Prairie View A&M. TXST is 10-8 on the road but are 3-6 away from Bobcat Ballpark in league play.
 
Davis Powell is the lone player hitting .300 or better at .388, which ranks third in the Sun Belt. He also has a team leading 50 hits, 37 runs scored and 14 doubles while hitting five homers and driving in 29 runs. Chase Mora (38 RBI) and Jose Gonzalez (43 RBI) have hit 12 and 10 homers, respectively. Also closing in on double-digit round trippers is Cade Manning (8) and August Ramirez (9).
 
Slated to start on Friday is Levi Wells, who has struck out a team-high 64 while recording a 6-2 record and 4.81 ERA. Tony Robie (5-1, 4.25 ERA, 34 K) is slated to make his third straight Saturday starter and Zeke Wood (1-2, 4.67 ERA, 43 K) gets the ball on Sunday.
 
Triston Dixon (3-1, 3.83 ERA, 5 SV) has made a team-high 21 appearances in relief and was recently named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year midseason watch list. Pacing all relievers with 47 strikeouts while posting a 2-2 record, two saves and 3.93 ERA is Jack Stroud. Also with a sub-4.00 ERA out of the bullpen is Jonathan Martinez at 3.86 over 14 innings.
 
ABOUT OLD DOMINION
The Monarchs are coming off a midweek victory at VCU on Tuesday. Last weekend saw them drop a series on the road to App State. When playing at home, ODU is 17-7 but just 4-5 in conference action.
 
Leading the way at the plate for the Monarchs is Hunter Fitz-Gerald with a .341 average, 59 hits, 48 runs, 18 home runs and 57 RBI. Freshman shortstop Alex Bouche is batting .338 with 10 homers, 36 RBI and 36 runs. Both Jake Ticer (.304, 41 RBI) and Camden Grimes (.286, 25 RBI) have hit 16 and 11 long balls, respectively.
 
Getting the ball on Friday will be Blake Morgan. The lefty sports a 3-3 record with a 6.00 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 48.0 innings. Saturday's starter will be Sam Armstrong, who comes in at 7-1 and sporting a 3.19 ERA and team-high 55 strikeouts in 53.2 innings. The starter on Sunday is still to be announced.
 
John Holobetz comes out of the bullpen with a 2-1 record, four saves, 3.86 ERA and 30 punch outs in 25.2 innings spanning 12 games. Robert Cook (2-3, 4.66 ERA) has earned three saves. Sporting a reliever low 2.50 ERA in 18.0 innings over 13 appearances is Bailey Matela (3-0, 24 K).
 
SERIES VS. MONARCHS
This weekend will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams. Texas State is 5-1 against Sun Belt newcomers this year with a sweep of Marshall and series victory over Southern Miss that saw both series be played in San Marcos.
 
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