Bobcats drop series against South Alabama

Texas State fell to the South Alabama Jaguars in extra innings to drop the overall series in a 4-3 loss after splitting the doubleheader on Thursday.

The Bobcats fall to 2012 overall with a 6-6 conference record.

GAME 1

Both Ryder Hernandez and Davis Powell had two hits and drove in three runs. August Ramirez also had two base knocks and score twice. Driving in a run apiece was Cade Manning and Ramirez.

Levi Wells (5-1) earned the win after throwing six innings and striking out three while giving up four runs on seven hits. Earning his first save of the season was Nathan Medrano. The right-hander threw three scoreless frames and struck out four. Suffering the loss after surrendering three runs on two hits in five innings was Jeremy Lee (0-5).

The Bobcats struck first for three runs in the second. Cade Manning plated the first run on a misplayed grounder by the shortstop. Two batters later with the bases loaded, Ryder Hernandez singled through the left side to bring home two.

In the bottom of the frame, the Jaguars got a run back when Colson Lawrence hit a double that hit off of Hernandez’s glove on a leaping attempt to snare the ball. The hosts would make it a 3-2 contest in the sixth on an RBI groundout.

August Ramirez led off the seventh with a double to left center. After the next two batters were retired, Peyton Lewis was able to work a free pass. Hernandez followed with a single to right to bring home a run. A walk was issued to Ben McClain to load the bases and saw USA make a pitching change. Davis Powell took advantage of the situation with a double to right center that cleared the bases and put TXST ahead 7-2.

The Jaguars would answer right back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.

In the eighth, Texas State had the chance to break the game open as the bases were loaded. However, a line-out to left ended the inning to keep it a three-run contest.

Back-to-back singles by Powell and Jose Gonzalez was followed with Pena drawing a walk to load the bases. Ramirez flew out to left that saw all the runners tag and try to advance. Powell crossed the plate before Pena was tagged out at second to give the Bobcats an insurance run.

Medrano closed out the game with back-to-back 1-2-3 innings that saw him strikeout two apiece in each frame.

GAME 2

Mora and Powell each went 2-for-4 at the plate as both of Mora’s base knocks went for extra bases. The freshman drove in a run along with Ryan Leary and Gonzalez.

Austin Smith (1-2) took the loss after giving up two runs in the first inning off of two hits. Matthew DeLano (2-0) worked 3.2 innings out of the bullpen and allowed three runs on five hits to pick up the win.

Working 2.1 innings in relief was Cameron Bush as he struck out two and surrendered an unearned run off of two hits. Throwing two scoreless frames was Rhett McCaffety.

It would be South Alabama that scored first with a two-run homer from Will Turner in the first. The hosts would add another run in the second to go up 3-0.

McClain singled to start the third and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. A hard-hit single from Powell put runners on the corners. Gonzalez would hit a sac fly to left to put the Bobcats on the scoreboard.

The next inning saw Ramirez hit a 2-2 pitch to right center for a double. Two groundouts later saw him cross the plate to cut the deficit to 3-2.

USA would go back up by three on a two RBI single off the bat of Tyler Borges in the fifth.

Chase Mora blasted a 1-0 pitch down the left field line in the next half inning for the home run to cut the deficit to 5-3.

With the homer,, Mora set a new record for most home runs in a season by a freshman which was set by Tyler Sibley in 2009 with 10.

The Jaguars responded with a three-run frame to extend their lead to five runs.

Mora nearly hit his second long ball of the game to start off the eighth as it hit off the left field wall for a double. He would be left stranded on the base as the next three Bobcats were set down in order.

GAME 3

Texas State fell in 10 innings on the road to South Alabama by a score of 5-4 Friday afternoon at Stanky Field in the series finale.

The result drops the Bobcats to 20-12 on the season and 6-6 in the Sun Belt Conference while the Jaguars are now 15-17 overall and 5-7 in league play.

Finishing with two hits apiece was Jose Gonzalez and Peyton Lewis, who also scored twice. Both Cade Manning and Chase Mora had game-tying solo home runs in the contest.

Jack Stroud (2-2) went 2.2 innings and struck out three while taking the loss. Colton Lawrence (10) earned the win after retiring all three batters he faced in the 10th.

Starting on the rubber for TXST was Tony Robie, who went 4.1 innings with three strikeouts while giving up two runs, one of them earned, on four hits. Triston Dixon also threw 2.2 innings out of the bullpen.

Lewis led off the third with a double that landed just inside the right field line. After advancing to third on a deep fly out, he would tag and score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Davis Powell to put Texas State on the scoreboard and in front.

Joseph Sullivan reached base on a TXST miscue to start the fourth. He would work his way around and come home on a single from Micah Morgan to tie the game. The hosts would take the lead an inning later at 2-1.

The seventh began with Manning hitting a 0-2 pitch over the right field wall for his eighth home run of the season to tie the game. Lewis then singled to center and advanced into scoring position on a sac bunt. The senior catcher would slide home on a single off the bat of Ben McClain to put the Bobcats back in front 3-2.

USA responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame to take the lead right back.

Mora hit his 12th homer of the season to left field off the scoreboard to tie the game up at 4-4 as he leadoff the eighth.

The Jaguars leadoff batter in the 10th was walked and moved up to second on a wild pitch. A great wheel play saw Ryder Hernandez throw to Davis Powell at third and tag him on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Following a single, Cole Ketzner attempted a suicide squeeze that saw Stroud field the ball and tag the runner at the plate that saw Morgan advance to third from first.

A ground ball hit back up the middle by Erick Orbeta was fielded off-balance by Mora. He appeared to drag his foot over the second base for what was the third out of the inning but the umpire said he missed the bag and called the runner safe.

Next up for the Bobcats is a two-game midweek series against Texas. The first game takes place on Monday at 6 p.m. from Bobcat Ballpark.