SAN MARCOS, Texas – This weekend will see Texas State (8-12, 0-3 Sun Belt) host Arkansas State (10-10, 2-1 Sun Belt) for the first Sun Belt Conference series at Bobcat Ballpark this season. Friday's game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch while Saturday's and Sunday's contest are slated to start at 2:30 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

Fans can catch all three games on ESPN+ and live stats will also be available.

PROBABLY STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: TXST LHP Alex Valentin (3-0) vs. ASU RHP Collin Maloney (2-2)
Saturday: TXST LHP Jesus Tovar (0-2) vs. ASU RHP Andrew Allen (0-1)
Sunday: TXST TBD vs. ASU RHP Jack Hibbard (3-1)

ABOUT TEXAS STATE
The Bobcats are looking to end a six-game skid after falling on Tuesday to Baylor. It is the second straight year that the team has record a losing streak of six games. TXST is 8-2 all-time in the first home Sun Belt game of a campaign and 24-6 in the first series.

Ryne Farber leads the team in batting average (.320), runs (15) and stolen bases (6). His 11 walks are tied for the most on the squad with Cole Tabor. The sophomore has also hit four doubles, one home run and driven in 11 runs. Austin Eaton paces the team with four home runs and 12 RBI. The only other players with multiple homers are Ian Collier and Zachary Gingrich with two apiece.

Making his first Friday night start will be Alex Valentin. The lefty is 3-0 with a 4.37 ERA and 20 strikeouts on the year but has a 2.82 ERA and allowed just nine hits over his last four appearances. Taking the rubber on Saturday will be Jesus Tovar, who is 0-2 with a 6.89 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 15.2 innings over four starts. Sunday's starter is to be decided.

A team-high 10 relief appearances have been made by Matthew Tippie, who sports a 3.68 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 14.2 innings. Also pitching in 10 contests with one start has been Bryson Dudley. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 6.62 ERA and 22 punch outs over 17.2 innings.

ABOUT ARKANSAS STATE
The Red Wolves enter the weekend having won two straight and seven of their last eight games. Last weekend saw them open conference play with two victories at home over Marshall. ASU is 0-4 on the road this season with defeats to Jacksonville State (3x) and Ole Miss.

Hitting .300 or better are Kaden Amundson (.300), Wil French (.301) and Cross Jumper (.320). French leads the team with 17 runs scored and Jumper has a team-high 21 RBI. A team leading four home runs have been hit by Jake Henry Williams.

Set to start on the rubber on Friday is Collin Maloney. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 2.01 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, a staff-high 27 strikeouts and is limiting opponents to a .142 batting average in 31.1 innings. Making his first start of the season on Saturday will be Andrew Allen, who is 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA and nine punch outs in nine frames over five relief appearances. Rounding out the rotation will be Jack Hibbard, the reigning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week. He is 3-1 with a 3.90 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 23 strikeouts in 30 frames.

Former Bobcat Carson Keithley has earned both of the team's saves. The lefty is 1-0 with a 3.68 ERA and nine strikeouts in 7.1 innings over nine relief outings. Chase Richter sports a 3.06 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 22 strikeouts in 17.2 innings that has spanned nine games with one start.

SERIES VS. RED WOLVES
Entering the weekend, the all-time series is tied 17-17. Arkansas State won the series last year in Jonesboro with both wins coming in one-run contests. From 2019-23, Texas State won 10 of the 12 meetings.

Both teams have won eight games when playing in San Marcos. Last time the teams played at Bobcat Ballpark was in 2023. That series saw TXST win two of the three contests.

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