SAN ANTONIO — UTSA will complete its home-and-home series with I-35 rival Texas State on Tuesday when it hosts the Bobcats at 6 p.m. at Roadrunner Field.
UTSA (22-20) won the initial meeting back on March 7 in San Marcos by a score of 9-1 behind two high-scoring innings — a four-run second and three-run seventh.
The Roadrunners will look to gain some momentum after dropping a tough series at Rice this past weekend. UTSA won the series opener on Friday but came up short in the next two games. The Roadrunners are now tied for sixth in the Conference USA standings with FIU with a 10-11 mark.
UTSA currently has six players hitting .300 or better on the season led by the hot bat of Ben Brookover. The San Antonio product is batting .370 on the year and has had a hit in 20 of his last 21 games, including 10 multiple-hit games. Kevin Markham also has been a bright spot for the Roadrunners with his .351 average. Markham leads the club with 61 hits with 26 of those going for extra bases.
Texas State (22-23) heads to the Alamo City riding an eight-game losing skid. The Bobcats have been swept in its last two conference series against South Alabama and Troy with midweek losses to Texas and Baylor. Texas State is 5-13 on the road this spring and 19-25 all-time at the Bird Bath.
Leading the offensive charge for the Bobcats is Theodore Hoffman with his .347 batting average and .617 slugging percentage. Hoffman leads the squad in hits (67), runs scored (41), doubles (14), home runs (14) and RBIs (39). Meanwhile, Jonathan Ortega adds a .339 average at the plate with 60 hits, 40 runs scored, 10 doubles, six home runs, 34 RBIs, 23 walks and 16 stolen bases.
Probable matchups on the hill will feature UTSA right-hander Chance Kirby (6.06 ERA) and Texas State's southpaw Brandon Lewis (25.20 ERA).
Texas State leads the all-time series, 55-34.
