SAN MARCOS, Texas – After playing two midweek games at home, Texas State (20-21, 8-10 Sun Belt) is back on the road this week to take on 20th-ranked Troy (29-12, 12-6 Sun Belt) this weekend at Riddle-Pace Field. Friday's game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. while Saturday's and Sunday's contests have first pitches slated for 3:30 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

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

PROBABLY STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: TXST LHP Alex Valentin (4-4) vs. TROY RHP Noah Thigpen (1-1)
Saturday: TXST LHP Jesus Tovar (2-4) vs. TROY RHP Noah Edders (5-0)
Sunday: TXST RHP Shane Connell (0-1) vs. TROY TBA

ABOUT TEXAS STATE
The Bobcats are coming off two of their best offensive games of the season after putting up double-digits runs against No. 1 Texas and Tarleton State. TXST will be looking to win its second Sun Belt Conference road series of the year this weekend. The Bobcats haven't won multiple road conference series in the same season since 2022.

Chase Mora has been swinging a hot bat and is on an eight-game hitting streak. In the two midweek contests, he went 5-for-9 with five runs, four RBI and one homer. For the season, the junior is batting a team best .300 with six home runs, 28 runs scored and 26 RBI while also being 8-for-8 stealing bases.

Ryne Farber has a team-high 12 stolen bases and 11 doubles. The switch-hitting shortstop comes in batting .287 having scored 26 times and driven in 22 runs. The trio of Ian Collier (16 RBI), Coy DeFury (.308 AVG, 9 RBI) and Zachar Gingrich (14 RBI) have hit three long balls apiece.

Friday will see Alex Valentin take the mound. The lefty is 4-4 with a 5.33 ERA and has struck out 43 in 50.2 innings. He will be followed by Jesus Tovar on Saturday, who enters with a 2-4 mark, 4.79 ERA and 46 punch outs. Shane Connell will make his fifth start of the season on Sunday while sporting a 0-1 record, 6.75 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 20.0 innings.

Matthew Tippie has come out of the bullpen a staff-high 18 times this season and sports a 2-0 record with one save, 3.94 ERA and team-high 49 strikeouts over 29.2 innings. Carson Laws has earned seven saves while going 3-0 with 38 strikeouts in 27.1 innings.

ABOUT TROY
The Trojans are coming off a 12-10 road win on Tuesday over Alabama State. They have won five of their last six games after dropping three straight games in Virginia with a loss apiece to James Madison, Old Dominion and Virginia Tech. At home, Troy is 17-4 with a 6-3 record in Sun Belt games.

Blake Cavill leads the team with a .338 average while hitting 10 doubles and six home runs. He has also driven in 40 runs and scored 41 times. Steven Meir has also hit six long balls while leading the team with 47 runs and 17 stolen bases. The team leader in round trippers and RBI is Brooks Bryan with eight and 48, respectively.

Scheduled to take the hill on Friday is Noah Thigpen. The freshman right-hander has made 14 appearances on the season with one start. He is 1-1 with one save, a 3.33 ERA and 22 striekouts in 24.1 innings. Noah Edders will get the ball on Saturday while sporting a 5-0 record, 3.92 ERA and staff-high 61 strikeouts. Sunday's starter is to be announced.

Picking up a team-high five saves has been Jay Dill. He is 1-1 with a 4.13 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 28.1 innings over 17 appearances. Also earning two saves apiece has been Colby Frieda (2-0, 3.14 ERA, 34 K) and Luke Lyon (2-1, 8.47 ERA, 15 K).

SERIES VS. TROJANS
Troy leads the all-time series 16-11. Texas State has won three of the last four meetings after claiming the series last season in San Marcos. The Bobcats are 3-9 when facing the Trojans on the road with the only series victory for them coming in 2021.

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