SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State baseball team (25-12, 9-6 Sun Belt) hits the road this weekend for a three-game series against Southern Miss (25-12, 8-7 Sun Belt). Friday's opener from Pete Taylor Park is slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch followed by a 2 p.m. start on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
 
All three contests will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available.
 
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: TXST RHP Wade Cooper (4-0) vs. USM LHP Grayden Harris (6-1)
Saturday: TXST RHP Cade Smith (3-0) vs. USM RHP Camden Sunstrom (2-3)
Sunday: TXST TBA vs. USM TBA
 
ABOUT TEXAS STATE
The Bobcats wrapped up a nine-game homestand on Tuesday with a 4-3 victory over HCU. Over that span, the team compiled a 6-3 record that included a victory over then 18-ranked Texas A&M and a series win over Georgia Southern. This weekend is the first of two straight on the road for Texas State with the only home contest between those coming on Tuesday against UIW.
 
Rashawn Galloway enters the weekend hitting .361 with a team-high 57 hits, 18 doubles and three triples. He has driven in 34 runs and also scored 34 times. In Sun Belt Conference action, the senior is batting .406 with 13 RBI, five doubles, four homers and two triples.
 
A quartet of Bobcats have left the yard at least 10 times this season led by Dawson Park (47 RBI) and Jaquae Stewart (42 RBI) with 12 apiece. Jackson Cotton (41 R, 28 RBI, 11 SB) is right behind the duo with 11 long balls and Manny Salas (40 R, 31 RBI) has hit 10 homers.
 
In just 19 games, Ethan Farris has hit eight round trippers and eight doubles. The redshirt sophomore is batting .371 with 25 RBI and 21 runs. He has totaled 18 runs, 17 RBI and seven home runs in conference play.
 
Making his first collegiate start on Friday will be Wade Cooper. He is 4-0 with five saves, a 2.81 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 25.2 innings over 14 outings. Also making his first start of the season this weekend will be Cade Smith, who will get the ball on Saturday. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 3.27 ERA and 23 punch outs in 33.0 innings spanning 16 appearances. Sunday's starter is to be determined.
 
ABOUT SOUTHERN MISS
The Golden Eagles have lost three straight games after dropping two at Louisiana and a midweek contest versus Ole Miss on Tuesday. Over the last 13 games, USM is 6-7, which includes a 3-2 mark at home. The team is 13-5 at home this season with a 4-2 mark against Sun Belt opponents.
 
Leading the way at the plate is South Alabama transfer Kyle Morrison. He is hitting .336 with 11 homers and 34 RBI. Both Davis Gillespie (.312, 11 2B) and Joey Urban (.314, 41 R, 31 RBI) have hit nine round trippers each. Seth Smith enters with a .325 average and has swiped a team leading three bases.
 
Grayden Harris will take the mound on Friday and comes in with a 6-1 record, 3.24 ERA and staff-high 60 strikeouts over 50.0 innings. Saturday's starter is going to be Camden Sunstrom, who has punched out 49 in 43.0 innings and sports a 2.51 ERA and 2-3 record. Just like TXST, the Golden Eagles' Sunday starter is to be decided.
 
SERIES VS. GOLDEN EAGLES
Southern Miss leads the all-time series 6-4 after winning three of the four meetings last season. The last of which was a 9-1 victory in the Sun Belt Tournament. The only previous time the teams met in Hattiesburg was in the finale series of the 2024 season. Texas State won the opener 7-5 but dropped the last two games.
 
For all things Texas State baseball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.