Rain could actually end up helping the baseball team.

Because of the recent severe weather in the Fort Worth area, the TCU baseball team did not have to play McNeese State on Tuesday night, allowing the Horned Frogs extra time to rest and prepare for the beginning of conference play tonight against the University of New Mexico.

TCU (9-8) has had the upper-hand in six out of the last seven games against the Lobos (11-8).

New Mexico’s offense is led by its leadoff hitter, junior first baseman Kevin Atkinson. Atkinson leads the team with eight doubles and is second in hits and on-base percentage.

Freshman catcher and designated hitter Rafael Neda is key to the Lobos’ offense with a team-high 19 RBIs.

One of the Lobos’ probable starting pitchers in the series is junior right-hander Willy Kesler. Kesler, who is 4-0 on the season and has a 1.90 ERA with 18 strike outs in 23.2 innings pitched, is scheduled to start Saturday.

In the opening game of the series, junior right-hander Seth Garrison is expected to start on the mound for the Horned Frogs. Garrison is 0-3 with a 6.61 ERA in 16.1 innings pitched this season.

On offense, the Frogs have a lineup that is led by four upperclassmen. Juniors Ben Carruthers and Matt Carpenter, along with seniors Clint Arnold and Bryan Kervin have played in all 17 games this season and have accounted for 28 of the teams 58 RBIs.

TCU is coming off a series against rival No. 23 Wichita State, which swept the Horned Frogs three games to none.

New Mexico has won its past three games, driving in 12 runs in two of the wins.

Last year the Horned Frogs took the season series against the Lobos 2-1.