NCAA Baseball Championship Preview: Texas State vs. Southern California

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (Interstat) — Manny Salas and the Texas State Bobcats (36-24) will face Grant Govel and the Southern California Trojans (43-15) on Friday, May 29, in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship at College Station. First pitch is set for Friday evening.

Texas State enters the postseason having dropped two of its final three regular-season games, including a 7-4 loss to Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday. The Bobcats are making their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2023 behind a lineup anchored by designated hitter Manny Salas.

Salas, a senior, has been streaky but explosive. Over his last 10 games, he has recorded four multi-hit performances, including a 4-for-5 showing with three home runs and three RBIs in a 12-9 win over Marshall on May 15. He also homered in the regular-season finale against Louisiana-Lafayette, going 3-for-4 with a solo shot. For the season, Salas leads the Bobcats in home runs and RBIs.

Southern California carries a 43-15 record and is the designated home team despite the neutral-site setting. The Trojans lost their regular-season finale 7-5 at UCLA on Saturday but had won seven of their previous eight games.

Right-hander Grant Govel is expected to start for the Trojans. The junior has been inconsistent of late, allowing two earned runs over four innings in the loss to UCLA and three earned runs over 4 2/3 innings in a 4-3 loss at Oregon on May 15. His best recent outing came May 8 against Nevada, when he struck out seven over six innings, allowing two earned runs. Govel has a 3.18 ERA over his last five starts.

Texas State is coming off a 7-4 loss to Louisiana-Lafayette, a game in which Salas went 3-for-4 with a home run. Jesus Tovar took the loss, allowing four earned runs over 5 1/3 innings.

Southern California dropped its final game to UCLA, 7-5, despite 4 2/3 scoreless innings from reliever Gavin Lauridsen. Govel worked four innings, allowing two earned runs.

The teams have not met this season. Texas State’s offense has been inconsistent, scoring six runs or fewer in eight of its last 11 games. The Bobcats are 6-6 in one-run games this season.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a close contest, with Texas State winning 8-7.