The Texas State baseball team will look to get their offensive and defensive efforts back on track coming off three straight loses when they take on Northern Kentucky University for a three-game series this weekend.

The biggest struggle for the Bobcats (2-6) has come at the plate this year, but they were able to get their offense going against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi University Tuesday in a 7-3 loss. It was the defense that was not able to do its part against the Islanders, making three errors, two in the eighth inning.

Until the game against Corpus Christi, the Bobcats had not committed more than one error in a game all season. Coach Ty Harrington still remains confident in his defensive players and knows their performance from Tuesday is not indicative of their talents.

Offensive struggles have plagued the Texas State baseball team in recent losses, but it was defensive errors that caused the Bobcats to lose 7-3 Tuesday night against Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

“We haven’t quite learned how to earn a win yet,” said Coach Ty Harrington. “We gave up some runs early. We were playing catch-up all night. You got to earn wins at this level. We’ve had chances in every game this season to win.”

The Bobcats were able to get the bats going with nine hits, but the defense had three errors total, including two in the eighth inning resulting in two runs.

“It is frustrating. There are a couple of areas that you want to try to win a game in,” Harrington said. “We were not able to capitalize and play good defense tonight like we have been doing this season.”

Texas State baseball’s conference-worst .183 batting average continued to be a glaring weakness in the weekend series against the University of Houston.

The team’s offense came through with 10 hits Friday night for a 6-1 victory against the Cougars. However, the Bobcats only managed eight hits for the rest of the weekend and fell back into their offensive slump with 1-0 and 4-2 losses on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

“We have a lot of guys hurt,” Coach Ty Harrington said. “Injuries are not supposed to be an excuse but the reality is we have some guys out right now. It’s made our lineup a little bit softer. We have to get those guys healthy, and the guys who are healthy have to play better. The bottom line is we are not offensive right now. We are pitching fine and the defense is good enough, but we are not scoring runs.”

Texas State (1-3) will host the University of Houston in a three-game series this weekend with hopes that they can better their conference worst .176 batting average.

“We got to get better and grow as an offensive team,” Head Coach Ty Harrington said. “We got to maintain. We have to have four pitch at-bat and sometimes a five and six pitch at-bat so we get more looks at it, with hopes that (the opposition) can make a mistake.”

The Bobcats are coming off of their 6-3 Tuesday night loss to Baylor University in Waco where they were not able to take advantage of the Bears’ five errors. The Bobcats were right on their season average Tuesday, .176 from the plate.

Texas State would be averaging a little over two runs a game and five hits a game, if it were not for an offensive explosion against Sam Houston State University in last weekend’s finale. Texas State had nine hits and nine runs against the Bearkats.

A four-run second inning by Baylor University Tuesday evening once again put the Bobcats in an early hole and was enough to hand Texas State a 6-3 loss in Waco.

Freshman pitcher Andrew Boes got the start and lasted an inning and two thirds. He gave up five earned runs on seven hits while striking out two and walking one batter. The Bobcats used six total pitchers in the game. Only one other pitcher gave up a run.

Senior catcher Andrew Stumph singled to left, and after a Baylor throwing error, sophomore shortstop Garrett Mattlage scored the Bobcats’ first run. The game was tied 1-1 after the first inning. The second inning was not so fortunate for Texas State.

Boes was able to get out the first two batters he faced, but then let up a double before a single, scoring one. Baylor’s Duncan Wendel started the second inning hitting a single to right center, scoring after a double and an eventual sacrifice fly out.

Once student athletes conquer the collegiate sports world, some set their sights on becoming professionals.

“It’s a blessing to be out there chasing your dream,” said former Bobcat offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe. “It (was) an adjustment from the AFL (to the NFL). It’s been awhile since I’ve played 11 on 11.”

Nsekhe and many other once-Bobcats have made their mark at the NFL, CFL or AFL levels. Nsekhe is the latest to reach the NFL, where he is extended through the 2014 season with the St. Louis Rams.

“As a kid (I watched) the games and wanted to play at the highest level,” Nsekhe said.

Ty Nsekhe

St. Louis Rams

J D. Stinnett, freshman infielder, dives for a grounder Feb. 17 at the Bobcat Baseball Complex.

The Texas State baseball team started their season with two comeback efforts this weekend but came up short both games, going 1-2 in the CenturyLink Bobcat Invitational.

The Bobcats played Missouri State Friday and lost 3-2, and won against Tulane Saturday 2-3. On Sunday Texas State took on former Southland Conference foe Sam Houston State University looking to end the weekend over .500, but came up short to the Bearkats.

The Bobcats erased a seven-run deficit with 8 runs in the seventh, but surrendering two runs in the top of the ninth to lose 10-9.

The fate of the 2013 Texas State baseball team might be determined by how quickly and effectively the inexperienced players develop as the year progresses.

“(The early competition) is going to put some pressure on (the newcomers) to play at a level they may or may not be ready for,” said Coach Ty Harrington. “There are going to be tremendous challenges early for this team because of the lack of experience.”

The Bobcats look very different this season than they did last year. They lost several stars during the last couple of years but are hoping the presence of a closely united team will be able to overcome any obstacles standing in their path.

“Harrington has been very hard on (us) coming together as a team,” said sophomore infielder Colby Targun. “There are not as many big name superstars as there were last year. They told us we have to stay together as a team.”

It is getting to be that time of year. The aroma of freshly cut grass, overcooked (yet absolutely delicious) hot dogs and roasted peanuts. Plus, who can forget the over-reactive umpire on called third strikes?

It’s baseball season.

The Bobcats will embark on their 2013 season Friday at 2 p.m., hosting Missouri State University in the CenturyLink Invitational. The Bobcats should expect a good turnout their opening weekend for what could be the start of something special.

Like it or not, Bobcat fans, Texas State is a baseball school. Since the 2005 season, Texas State has eclipsed the 30-win mark seven times in eight years. It has reached the 40-win total twice, including the season just two years ago.

Throughout the past decade, the media attention in college recruiting has risen to unprecedented heights. Thousands of college football fans from across the country will have their eyes glued to their television or laptop Feb. 6 to find out where some 18 year olds will be playing college football.

Sounds kind of creepy, right?

When you consider the type of implication each national signing day has on these money-making machines, also known as football programs, it actually is quite understandable. When the final whistle is blown on a football season, the majority of fans, coaches, families and players start concentrating on the future.