BASEBALL PREVIEW: Baylor at Texas State

SAN MARCOS, Texas (Interstat) — Baylor travels to Bobcat Ballpark on Tuesday to face Texas State in a midweek nonconference matchup. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. under partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 82 degrees.

The Bears enter the game with a 25-22 record, while the Bobcats sit at 27-21. Texas State claimed a decisive 14-4 victory in the teams’ only previous meeting this season on Feb. 17 in Waco.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a tight contest, with Baylor winning 3-2.

Baylor right-hander Ethan Calder is expected to start. Calder (7.0 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 4 K in a loss to Texas Tech on Sunday) has been inconsistent, allowing 13 earned runs over his last four starts spanning 22 innings. He recorded a season-high six strikeouts in a win at Cincinnati on April 12.

Texas State will counter with reliever Ryan Markwardt, who has excelled in recent outings. Markwardt has not allowed an earned run over his last 5.1 innings, striking out six across appearances against South Alabama and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. He threw a season-high four scoreless innings with six strikeouts in a win over Stephen F. Austin on April 8.

The Bears dropped two of three at home to Texas Tech over the weekend, winning 10-9 on Saturday before falling 9-3 on Sunday. First baseman Tyce Armstrong homered in the loss, and shortstop Travis Sanders drove in two runs.

Texas State was swept at home by South Alabama, losing 6-2, 6-4 and 7-4. Third baseman Justin Vossos went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in Sunday’s loss.

Baylor opens a three-game home series against UCF on Friday. Texas State begins a three-game road series at Arkansas State on Friday.