TXST BASEBALL
Texas State hosts Texas next week
In a four-game series where the weather shifted the entire weekend schedule, the Bobcats emerged on Sunday with a 4-3 win over the Washington State Cougars to take the series over their future Pac-12 conference bunkmates.
Texas State improves to 12-3 overall while Washington State falls to 6-9 overall.
“It’s a really good mindset from our team,” senior Jesus Tovar said, who earned the win in Sunday’s game. ”[It was a] really tough and long weekend for us. Saturday had the cancellation today and we didn’t know if we were gonna get rained out again or it was gonna be lightning.
“It says a lot about the character as a team being able to come out no matter what and get the job done.”
Head Coach Steven Trout was proud of his team for not only finding a way to win but also navigating through the last-minute schedule changes due to the weather.
“It was really big,” Trout said. “Any time you beat a team. win the series, go 3-1 on the week, it’s a really good job. Obviously, a lot of different things started on Thursday, the double header, the day off, because we gave [the players] completely off yesterday after being exhausted and they came out again on kind of a weird weather day, but found a way to get it done. So I’m really proud of them.”
Sophomore Dawson Park scored the first runs of the game in the bottom of the second, crushing a two-run home run over the wall in right-center field to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead.
The Cougars answered back in the top of the fifth inning, scoring on an RBI single, which ended Tovar’s scoreless inning streak.
However, Tovar finished his day throwing six innings, allowing just four hits, one earned run, three walks and striking out seven batters.
“I try to do the same thing as always, planning for a 12 o’clock start no matter what,” Tovar said.
“But it’s just all mentality. Being able to know that you had to do the job no matter what happens, no matter the weather. Most situations can change that mentality.”
The Bobcats responded by scoring in the bottom of the fifth when Rashawn Galloway hit an RBI double to extend the lead.
Later in the bottom of the sixth, sophomore Brady Boles added another run but hitting an RBI single, making it a 4-1 game.
The Cougars answered in the next at-bat, loading up the bases before scoring on an RBI single and cutting into the Bobcat deficit.
Following a lineout, the Cougars scored on a fielder’s choice, making the score 4-3.
But pitcher Alec Beversdorf got out of the jam, getting the strikeout to end the at-bat.
Freshman closer Wade Cooper came into the top of the ninth inning and earned his fourth save of the season as the Bobcats hung on to a 4-3 win over the Cougars.
TEXAS PREVIEW One of the biggest games of the year is finally here, as the Texas State Bobcats will host the No. 2-ranked Texas Longhorns Tuesday night.
Texas enters the midweek with a 15-0 overall and playing their first true road game of the season.
“It’s one of the best nights of the year,” Trout said. ”This place is going to be packed out and rowdy. … It seems like we always have great games. They got us the last 4 here in our ballpark and we haven’t lost 4 games in their ballpark. So hopefully we can turn a little bit, get them here this year and to make it happen.
“But I’m excited. It’s a fun night and [you don’t have] to get your team up to play. You just have to remind [the team of ] the routine, remind them to breathe a little bit, and to slow the game down and just get back to winning pitches.”
The Texas State-Texas series dates back to 1986 and has been played every year since 1988 with the exception of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since the expansion of Bobcat Ballpark, the series has shifted to a home-and-home outing with both teams visiting the other’s ballpark starting in 2014.
Texas leads the series 56-17 but Texas State has won five of the last nine outings played between the two programs, including winning four straight at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bobcat Ballpark.
Texas State will host No. 2 rank Texas this Tuesday. This will be the 74th alltime meeting between the Bobcats and the Longhorns. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
