STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State is set to get the 27
th season of Texan Baseball under way tomorrow at 10 a.m. when the Texans throw out the season's first pitch at Minute Maid Park in Houston for the Winter Invitational.
"I'm very excited to get this season going with this group," said head coach
Bryan Conger. "I'm excited to see what they have the ability to accomplish. They are a very steady, level-headed group and I can't wait to see how they compete day in and day out."
GAMES AND TIMES
Here is a look at the four games Tarleton will play this weekend at Minute Maid Park in Houston:
• vs. Winona State, Thursday at 10 a.m.
• vs. St. Mary's, Friday at 2 p.m.
• vs. Henderson State, Saturday at 10 a.m.
• vs. Arkansas Tech, Sunday at 6 p.m.
ABOUT THE TEXANS
Led by seventh-year head coach
Bryan Conger, Tarleton State returns 14 players from last year's LSC Tournament Championship roster including a three-year starter at shortstop,
Evan Robinson. Of the 14 returners, six of them are pitchers including
Colton Burleson, who posted the team's top earned run average by a starter last season at 3.42 in 14 appearances.
COMING OFF ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP CAMPAIGN
Tarleton State has earned two different conference championship titles in each of the past two seasons – each one marking the first-ever in school history. Team 25 led Tarleton to the school's first Lone Star Conference regular season championship in 2013 and Team 26 followed up by sweeping the LSC Championship Tournament last May to earn the tournament title and receive an automatic bid into the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament.
HOUSTON WINTER INVITATIONAL
This season marks the third year of the Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park and Tarleton State has been a part of the tournament every year. Held at the home of the Houston Astros, the tournament plays host to six teams who will play 12 games from Feb. 5-8. Joining Tarleton State at the tournament will be: St. Mary's, Central Missouri, Arkansas Tech, Henderson State and Winona State. The Texans will play everyone except Central Missouri, beginning with the Warrior of Winona State Thursday at 10 a.m. to open the tournament.
"We're very excited and thankful for the opportunity that the Houston Astros are providing us," said head coach
Bryan Conger.
PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Tarleton State enters the season picked to finish third in the Lone Star Conference and are sitting at No. 8 in the South Central Regional preseason rankings, presented by the National College Baseball Writer's Association. The NCBWA also selected
Evan Robinson, Keven Meredith and
Colton Burleson as preseason second-team all-region honorees.
THE COUNTDOWN TO 200
Conger enters his seventh season with the Texans on the verge of reaching career win No. 200. The Tarleton skipper boasts 183-131-2 as the head coach of the Texans.
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
After the Houston Winter Invitational, Tarleton will stay on the road for one more weekend before making its home debut. The Texans will visit St. Mary's in San Antonio for a three-game series beginning Feb. 13 at 3 p.m.
