Texas State baseball’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad weekend mercifully ended Sunday when Marcus Aranda hit a two-run home run to left field, lifting Louisiana-Monroe to a 16-5, seven inning, run-rule win.
The Bobcats’ pitching, which had been adequate for most of the nonconference slate, gave up 36 runs over three days. The Warhawks chased Jesus Tovar, who had allowed one run in his four previous starts, after two-thirds of an inning. ULM recorded four hits and seven runs against Tovar alone, ending Sunday with 18 hits.Â
TEXAS STATE VS. TEXAS A&M
When/where:Â 6 p.m. Tuesday in College Station.
TV/radio:Â SEC Network+; 1370 AM.
MORE: Texas State baseball vs Texas takeaways
Article continues below this ad
MORE BOBCATS: How Navy SEAL training helped Texas State softball gel ahead of 2026 season
Despite the disastrous performance, Texas State head coach Steven Trout has a “midnight rule,” urging players to forget the previous day’s events by midnight. Next up is a midweek game Tuesday at Texas A&M, followed by a return to Bobcat Ballpark for a weekend series against Louisiana.
Here are some takeaways from Texas State’s weekend performance:
Article continues below this ad
Who can start for Texas State?
Simply put, nothing about the rest of Texas State’s season matters if Trout cannot rely on any of his three weekend starters to give him anything resembling a quality performance.
Tovar has earned leniency, thanks to his prior excellence. There’s a chance he flushes the performance and, next week, looks more like himself. But pitchers Kyle Froehlich and Sam Hall are standing on very thin ice.
Texas State pitcher Nolan Moore (26) throws a pitch during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State infielder Tanner Carson (29) is hit by a pitch during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State infeilder Dawson Park (3) throws the ball to first during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State outfielder Rashawn Galloway (7) swings at a pitch during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Niagara University infielder Jacob Brooks (7) leaves second base after tagging Texas State infielder Jaquae Stewart (24) during the game at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State pitcher Nolan Moore (26) throws a pitch during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State infielder Chase Mora (2) steps up to bat during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State pitcher Nolan Moore (26) and catcher Clayton Namken (32) celebrate a third strikeout during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State outfielder Rashawn Galloway (7) grabs a ground ball during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Niagara University outfielder Noah Konings (11) slides home for a score during the game against Texas State at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State infielder Tanner Carson (29) swings at a pitch during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State outfielder Rashawn Galloway (7) grabs a ground ball during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Niagara University infielder Jason Green (35) catches a fly ball during the game against Texas State at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State infeilder Dawson Park (3) grabs a ground ball during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State pitcher Nolan Moore (26) throws a pitch during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State infielder Tanner Carson (29) catches the ball at first during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State infeilder Dawson Park (3) throws the ball to first during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State pitcher Josh Glaser (34) throws a pitch during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State outfielders Jaquae Stewart (24), Jackson Cotton (44), and Rashawn Galloway (7) wait in the outfield during a pitcher switch during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State infielder Chase Mora (2) hits a pitch during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State outfielder Jackson Cotton (44) catches a fly ball during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State catcher Rashawn Galloway (7) hits a ball during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State infeider Tanner Carson (29) celebrates a hit for a triple during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State infeider Tanner Carson (29) and outfielder Jackson Cotton (44) celebrate a score during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State outfielder Jackson Cotton (44)runs home for a score during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State infielder Brady Boles (21) catches the ball at second during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State pitcher Shane Connell (31) throws a pitch during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State infielder Manny Salas (33) celebrates a score during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas State infielder Chase Mora (2) throws the ball to first during the game against Niagara University at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday, February. 14, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Froehlich has started three games against Group of Five schools and has an earned run average of 9.00 in those games. Against ULM, he gave up seven runs (four earned) on nine hits in two innings. Hall, who started Saturday in place of the injured Nolan Moore, has been slightly better. ULM collected three earned runs on five hits against Hall, who boasts a 6.75 ERA.
Article continues below this ad
ULM was picked last in the Sun Belt preseason poll, though the Warhawks may be better than what voters thought. But if this is how the Bobcats perform against the conference’s worst, it does not bode well for the future.
Spots of positivity
The relievers didn’t have much success against ULM as well. But there were a few arms that stood out among the rest.Â
Alizah Gutierrez threw three innings in relief for Froehlich, allowing no hits and no runs while walking one. It was the cleanest innings of work any Bobcat had this past weekend, and he’s been mostly reliable, with a 3.72 ERA. Wade Cooper has been the Bobcats’ closer, but leapt into emergency relief duty when Tovar left the game prematurely. He went 3 â…” innings, striking out five and giving up five runs on two hits.
Article continues below this ad
And despite the rough visit to Ouachita Parish, La., Texas State’s bats had a relatively solid weekend. They racked up 16 RBIs on 31 hits over three games. Outfielder Jackson Cotton recorded his team-leading fifth home run of the season, while infielder Dawson Park led the Texas State bats with five RBIs.
Texas State Bobcats pitcher Alizaeh Gutierrez (12) pitches as the Texas Longhorns and Texas State Bobcats face off in San Marcos Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Ethan Farris returns for Bobcats
Texas State infielder Ethan Farris played 17 games in 2025 before suffering a season-ending injury in March sidelined him for an entire year. He returned for Saturday’s game, going hitless. Farris struggled Sunday until the sixth inning, when the Bobcat launched the first home run of his career to deep center field.
Article continues below this ad
More importantly, Farris’ return allowed Manny Salas to slide into the designated hitter role. Salas has struggled at first base, leading the team with four errors. Farris has the utility to play in the infield or outfield and has made four errors throughout his entire career.