SAN MARCOS, Texas – The first Sun Belt Conference series of the season sees Texas State (8-8) make the trek to mountains of North Carolina to take on App State (8-8). Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT at Smith Stadium while Saturday's and Sunday's games are slated to start at 2 p.m. and 12 p.m. CT, respectively.

Fans can watch the series on ESPN + and live stats will also be available.

PROBABLY STARTING PITCHERS

Friday: TXST LHP Jesus Tovar (0-1) vs. APP RHP Caleb Cross (1-0)

Saturday: TXST LHP Alex Valentin (3-0) vs. APP Caleb Marks (1-0)

Sunday: TXST TBD vs. APP RHP Everette Harris (0-1)

ABOUT TEXAS STATE

Texas State will be opening Sun Belt play on the road for just the fourth time ever with the other three occurrences being in 2019, 2021 and 2022. When playing on the road this season, the Bobcats are 3-3 with a 2-3 mark in true road games. Victories have been against Campbell, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M.

Ryne Farber paces Texas in batting average (.305), hits (18), runs (13), walks (10) and stolen bases (6). Austin Eaton is the lone batter with multiple home runs with four while driving in 10 runs. Leading the squad with 11 RBI and five doubles is Ethan Farris.

Making his second straight Friday start will be Jesus Tovar. The lefty is 0-1 with a 4.61 ERA. He shares the team lead in strikeouts with 22 that have come in 13.2 innings over three starts. Alex Valentin, who will start on Saturday, enters with a 3-0 record, 4.58 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 18 strikeouts. Sunday's starter is still to be decided.

Out of the bullpen, Bryson Dudley shares the team lead with 22 strikeouts that have come over 17.1 innings. He is 3-1 on the season with a 3.12 ERA over 17.1 innings spanning eight games. Carson Laws (5.87 ERA 9 K) has recorded the staff's three saves. Making seven relief appearances has been Matthew Tippie, who has struck out 15 in 10.0 innings and is holding opponents to a .152 batting average.

ABOUT APP STATE

The Mountaineers are coming off a 5-4 win on Tuesday at home over Charlotte. Last weekend saw them drop at the series at the College of Charleston. When playing at home, App State is 7-4 while going 2-2 in Boone. The other seven home contests were played in Hickory, North Carolina.

Five players are hitting over. 300 led by Dillon Moquin at .394. Tyler Lictenberger (.357) leads the team with five stolen bases. A Sun Belt leading eight home runs have been hit by Juan Correa, who also paces the squad with 22 RBI and 19 runs. Kameron Miller has hit three homers while Tyler Figueroa (16 R, 12 RBI) and John Kramer (15 RBI) have left the yard twice.

Getting the ball on Friday will be Caleb Cross. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 17.1 innings. Caleb Marks, the reigning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week, will start on Saturday and sports a 1-0 record, 5.23 ERA and 18 punch outs over a staff-high 20.2 innings. Sunday's start will be Everette Harris, who is 0-1 with a 10.20 ERA, 16 strikeouts and is allowing opponent to hit .354 off him in 15 frames.

Earning a team-high three saves has been Jordan Fisher (1-1, 6.52 ERA, 12 K) and Liam Best (1-0, 5.59 ERA, 10 K) has picked up two saves. Along with Fisher, Bradley Wilson has made nine relief appearances. He has a staff-low 2.00 ERA and is third on the team with 17 strikeouts that have come over 18.0 innings.

SERIES VS. MOUNTAINEERS

Texas State leads the all-time series 19-3 after winning the series last season in San Marcos. When playing in Boone, the Bobcats have an 8-1 record and swept the last series that took place Apr. 1-3, 2022. TXST won the first 14 meetings between the teams before suffering the lone loss on the road that was a 3-0 contest on Mar. 31, 2019.

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