SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State baseball team wraps up the regular season this weekend with a three-game set at Bobcat Ballpark against rival UT Arlington with the Sun Belt Conference regular season title on the line. Both games on Thursday and Friday will start at 6 p.m. and Saturday’s contests will see first pitch at 1 p.m.
Entering the series, the Bobcats are 34-17 overall and lead the Sun Belt by a game and a half with an 18-9 mark. The Mavericks are 30-22 on the season and 16-10 in conference play to sit second in the West Division.
A video stream and live stats will be available the entire series. Bill Culhane will have the radio call for the contests on KTSW 89.9 FM.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Thursday: TXST RHP Nicholas Fraze (6-3, 4.42 ERA) vs. UTA LHP Drew Gooch (3-3, 3.83 ERA)
Friday: TXST RHP Hunter McMahon (5-5, 4.56 ERA) vs. UTA RHP David Moffat (4-4, 3.67 ERA)
Saturday: TXST RHP Connor Reich (8-1, 3.76 ERA) vs. UTA TBA
Conference Title Scenarios
Heading into the final series of the regular season, Texas State controls its own destiny when it comes to the Sun Belt regular season championship. The Bobcats need to win one game to clinch at least a share of the regular season crown, win the West Division and claim the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament. To win the championship outright, TXST would have to win two games, win once and see Georgia Southern lose a game or win once and have a game between the Georgia schools or here in San Marcos be canceled.
Scouting Texas State
Texas State is coming off a series loss at Little Rock. The Bobcats dropped the first two games before salvaging the series with a 13-9 win on Sunday. A sweep this weekend will give TXST its first 20-win season at home since 2017.
Pacing the Bobcats with a .335 batting average is Dalton Shuffield. The sophomore infielder has recorded a team-high 67 hits with 12 doubles, has scored 33 runs and driven in 24. He is also a perfect 10-for-10 stealing bases.
Both Jaylen Hubbard and Jaxon Williams missed the final two games at Little Rock because of injuries but are expected back to face the Mavericks. Williams is hitting .332 with 53 runs scored, five home runs and 29 RBIs. Hubbard enters batting .325 with a team-high 55 runs scored. The senior third baseman has also recorded 16 doubles, six homers, four triples and 25 RBIs.
Will Hollis has also hit six home runs while pacing the squad with 45 RBIs and 41 walks. John Wuthrich has blasted a team best seven homers. He has scored 39 runs and plated 35 as well.
The starting rotation continues to remain the same with Nicholas Fraze scheduled to start Friday’s opener. Hunter McMahon will take the hill on Saturday and Connor Reich is slated to take the rubber for the series finale.
Scouting UT Arlington
UT Arlington is coming off a 12-2 seven-inning loss on Tuesday at 12th-ranked Baylor. Last weekend saw the Mavericks split a two-game set at home against Coastal Carolina. UTA is 16-12 on the road this season with a 7-5 mark against conference foes.
Connor Aube leads the Mavs with a .337 batting average, 59 hits, 41 runs scored, 17 doubles and 13 stolen bases. His three triples are tied for a team-high with Andrew Miller.
Anthony Dominguez is hitting .305 and paces the squad with 43 RBIs and 30 free passes. The junior outfielder has hit six home runs, scored 28 times and recorded 58 hits.
Both Josh Minjarez and Will Olson have recorded 55 hits and scored 33 runs. Minjarez has hit a team-high seven homers with 32 RBIs, 11 doubles and is 5-for-5 stealing bases. Olson enters with a .291 batting average, five home runs, 12 doubles and 24 RBIs.
Scheduled to take the hill on Thursday is Drew Gooch. The senior left-hander is 3-3 with a 3.83 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 49.1 innings. David Moffat will start on Friday and comes in with a 4-4 record, 3.67 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 76 innings of work. Saturday’s series finale starter is still to be announced.
All-Time Series
The all-time series sees Texas State lead 67-43. The Bobcats have won the last four meetings and 10 of the last 12 contests dating back to May 15, 2015.
Last time that TXST lost a series at home to the UT Arlington was in 1994 when it swept a three-game series. When playing at home, the Bobcats sport a 31-14 record with nine of the losses coming from 1989-94.
For all things Texas State baseball, be sure to follow the team on Instagram and Twitter.
Live Stats (Thu): http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=249882
Video (Thu): https://lrtrojans.com/watch/?Live=326&type=Live
Live Stats (Fri): http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=253929
Video (Fir): https://lrtrojans.com/watch/?Live=327&type=Live
Live Stats (Sat): http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=253930
Video (Sat): https://lrtrojans.com/watch/?Live=328&type=Live
TXST Game Notes: https://txstatebobcats.com/documents/2019/5/9/50_52_Little_Rock.pdf
