Published: May 15, 2008 10:49 am            

Big series for the Bobcats

College Baseball

Since Aaron Fuller struck out looking to end the game against Baylor, the Texas State baseball team has changed its focus. Although the Bobcats begin a three-game series against Texas-San Antonio tonight, they are looking further ahead.

“We’re looking to this series through to the tournament,” Texas State head coach Ty Harrington said. “At this point, we can’t afford to run out one of our pitchers and exhaust him because it’s a short turn around once again.”

The Bobcats will shake up the starting rotation a little bit against the Roadrunners. Harrington is going to move each starter up one day, so Mike Hart will pitch tonight, while Zach Tritz will throw Friday and Steven Siers on Saturday.

Since it’s a quick recovery time after the series, Texas State doesn’t want to use its pitcher too much. Hart will be expected to pitch well into the game on Friday, but Harrington said he’ll throw multiple pitchers on Friday and Saturday.

“Hart’s the guy who’s going to have to set the tone for us,” Harrington said. “Our pitching’s starting to come around and hopefully he’ll be able to keep it going.”

The Bobcats will be fighting for the second seed in the SLC tournament since UTSA already locked up the regular season title. Texas State stands at 17-10 in conference play, tied with Lamar. Sitting a half-game back is Sam Houston State and a full-game back is Northwestern State.

If the postseason were to begin today, Texas State would hold the third seed. Should the Bobcats sweep the Roadrunners, it would put them in good position to capture the second seed. Lamar hosts cellar-dweller McNeese State this weekend for two games and travels for the other.

“We’ve changed our focus to winning the tournament,” Harrington said. “That’s what our goal is right now. There’s not one specific thing (that changes) other than we’ll prepare our pitching for the tournament through the next three days and prepare our offense with a couple things where we might put a pinch hitter in a little bit earlier in the game. We’re not going to be changing much, just going at it strategically.”

The difference is minimal between a third and second seeds in the SLC tournament as the bracket will be broken up into two sides of four teams. There is no doubt Texas State has the offense to advance deep into the double-elimination format.

If the pitching can hold as it did against the Cowboys and Bears, the Bobcats may be a force to reckon with in a week.

        

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