SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State Athletics is proud to announce a pair of $2 million gifts from alumni Scott and Lynda Irvine and Chris and Shannon Rasmussen in support of the $16 million transformation of the university's baseball and softball facilities.

The renovation is proposed to include new indoor batting cages for both sports, a pitching lab, weight room, training room, locker rooms, hospitality club level and coaches' offices. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a vital resource for baseball and softball student-athletes.

"We are truly honored to have the opportunity to support both the baseball and softball programs in a way that will make a lasting impact on the coaches and student-athletes," said Scott Irvine. "With this contribution, Lynda and I hope to help elevate the programs not only by providing the resources they need to succeed on the field, but also by strengthening our university's national reputation. We believe this support can serve as a catalyst to propel these teams toward competing on the biggest stages in Omaha and Oklahoma City."
 
"Shannon and I are incredibly thankful to Texas State University for the tremendous impact it has had on our lives," said Chris Rasmussen. "We feel fortunate to be able to give back and help enhance our baseball and softball programs in a way that will truly transform their facilities. Our hope is that this investment not only elevates the student-athlete experience but also helps each program gain national prominence by attracting the very best talent from across Texas and beyond. We believe this marks a continuation of a new era for Texas State Athletics."
 
The Irvine and Rasmussen families have been steadfast partners to Texas State University, demonstrating their commitment through generous support across multiple athletic programs, including football, baseball, volleyball and softball. Over the years, they have contributed as major donors, suite holders, NIL supporters and sponsors of numerous departmental initiatives, playing a vital role in advancing the success and visibility of Texas State Athletics.

"We are truly fortunate to have the support of the Irvine and Rasmussen families behind a project of this magnitude as we prepare to enter the Pac-12 Conference and usher in a new era for Texas State Athletics," said Texas State Director of Athletics Don Coryell. "Their generosity will play a pivotal role in helping us achieve our vision of having premier baseball and softball facilities that match our championship aspirations. Combined with the leadership of Coach Trout and Coach Woodard, and the relentless work ethic of our student-athletes, commitments like this will undoubtedly elevate our programs to the next level."
 
"We are grateful to the Irvine and Rasmussen families for their generous support and confidence in the future of Texas State University," said President Kelly Damphousse. "These gifts will have a lasting impact on our university, our athletics program and especially on the student-athletes who proudly represent the Bobcats. As we prepare to enter the Pac-12 in 2026, gifts like this allow us to greatly improve our athletics facilities. Projects of this scale depend on the vision and commitment of donors like the Irvines and Rasmussens. Their support reflects the true spirit of the Bobcat family, and it helps propel Texas State toward even greater success on the national stage.

The Irvine and Rasmussen gifts will be recognized by the Texas State University System Board of Regents at their February 2026 meeting where the Board will consider a motion to rename the Baseball and Softball complex. These bold gifts help move the university toward our $50 million goal for the Light The Star capital campaign. 

Light The Star Athletics Fundraising Campaign
Light The Star: A Brighter Future for Texas State Athletics is a $50M comprehensive campaign designed to propel our university into a new era of collegiate athletics by building resources that can meet the needs of our 370 student-athletes.
 
The campaign will be multifaceted and focus on key areas including increasing annual scholarship support, building high impact facilities, growing our athletic endowment, revenue sharing and expanding our base of support in all of our ticketed sports.