SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State is back home to play its next two series in the friendly confines of Bobcat Ballpark. This weekend will see the Bobcats (22-24, 8-13 Sun Belt) take on Old Dominion (24-19, 11-10 Sun Belt) for a three-game series.
 
Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. On Saturday, the game is slated for a 2:30 p.m. start and Sunday's finale will begin at 11 a.m.
 
All three games will be broadcast on KTSW 89.9 FM while Sunday's game is the only one to be streamed on ESPN+ due to softball also playing at home this weekend. Live stats will also be available.
 
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHER
Friday: TXST RHP Austin Eaton (3-4, 4.62 ERA) vs. ODU LHP Jay Cassady (0-2, 2.83 ERA)
Saturday: TXST RHP Drayton Brown (1-3, 2.98 ERA) vs. ODU TBA
Sunday: TXST TBA vs. ODU TBA
 
ABOUT TEXAS STATE
Tuesday saw TXST hurlers strikeout 15 UTSA batters to set a new season high. Peyton Zabel led the way by matching his career-high of six punch outs. This weekend begins a season long six-game homestand.
 
Ryne Farber has been on a hot streak at the plate since returning from injury. In the eight games back in the lineup, he is hitting .448 (13-for-29), scored nine runs, drove in four runs and hit three doubles. He continues to be one of the toughest players to strikeout in the nation with one every 21.4 at-bats. For the season, the freshman is batting .383 with 31 runs, 22 RBI and 22 walks.
 
Also hitting over .300 is Aaron Lugo (.308) and Kameron Weil (.346). Lugo leads the team with 48 hits, 46 runs scored, nine home runs and eight stolen bases. Daylan Pena paces the squad with 14 doubles and shares the team lead of 39 RBI with Chase Mora.
 
Scheduled to start on the mound on Friday is Austin Eaton. He will be making his first start in three weeks after coming out of the bullpen the past two weekends. The right-hander is 3-4 with a 4.62 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 48.2 innings. Coming off a complete game shutout last Saturday, Drayton Brown will get the ball in the second game of the series. The right-hander is 1-3 with a 2.98 ERA and 38 punch outs this season. Sunday's starter is to be announced.
 
ABOUT OLD DOMINION
The Monarchs are coming off a series win at home last weekend over ULM that saw the first two games go extra innings. In road games, ODU is 3-9 this season with a 3-6 record in conference plays that saw it pick up two wins at Marshall, one at Coastal Carolina and get swept at Louisiana.
 
Luke Waters is the team's top hitter with a .300 average and eight home runs while driving in 31 runs. He has also swiped 17 bases in 20 attempts. Kenny Levari enters with a team best 35 RBI and 14 doubles and added seven round trippers and 27 runs. A squad high 34 runs 22 stolen bases belong to Steven Meier.
 
Friday will see Jay Cassidy take the rubber. The lefty is 0-2 with a 2.83 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 28.2 innings spanning 11 games that includes seven starts. Starters for both Saturday and Sunday are to be announced.
 
Out of the bullpen, Jacob Gomez has earned seven saves this season while also going 1-2 with a 1.86 ERA and recorded a staff-high 46 strikeouts in 38.2 innings. Picking up a save apiece has been Bailey Matela (1-2, 3.00 ERA, 23 K) and Cassidy. A team leading 16 relief appearances belongs to Vincent Bashara, who is 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
 
SERIES VS. THE MONARCHS
Texas State leads the all-time series 2-1 after winning the series last season in Norfolk, Virginia. The Bobcats won the opener 11-1 and the series finale 12-11 in 10 innings. This weekend will be the second time a program from the state of Virginia visits San Marcos with the first being VCU on Mar. 11-12, 1995.
 
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