Photo by Gerald Castillo
Bobcats split final two games with Trojans
After dropping its series opener Friday, Texas State (34-17, 18-9 Sun Belt) split its last two games at Little Rock (24-26, 15-11), losing 9-5 on Saturday and winning 13-9 on Sunday.
The Trojans got off to a hot start Saturday, building a 4-1 lead over the opening four innings of the game. Will Hollis helped the Bobcats get back into the game in the next frame.
Junior second baseman Riley King and sophomore shortstop Dalton Shuffield each singled and redshirt senior left fielder Travon Benton walked to load the bases with one out. Hollis doubled to right field, sending King and Shuffield home. A passed ball on the next pitch allowed Benton and Hollis to advance a base, tying the game. Sophomore right fielder John Wuthrich brought Hollis across the plate with a single to right field, giving Texas State a 5-4 lead.
The hosts answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, then jumped back in front in the bottom of the seventh with a four-run inning of their own. The Bobcats went scoreless the rest of the game, dropping the game, 9-5, and the series.
Texas State ended the road trip on a high note, though. The team exploded out of the gates Sunday with a five-run frame.
Shuffield led off with a double to left field and Hollis followed with a walk. Wuthrich advanced both runners and reached first on a fielding error by Little Rock. The Bobcats then hit four consecutive singles to make it a 5-0 lead.
The Trojans countered with two scores in the bottom of the first and kept fighting to trail 9-7 heading into the ninth. A solo home run from senior first baseman Ryan Newman and Shuffield and Wuthrich combined for three RBIs to give Texas State a six-run advantage. The hosts scored twice but Newman picked up an unassisted ground out to end the game, 13-9.
The Bobcats remain at the top of the conference standings. They can clinch the regular season Sun Belt title with a win this weekend as the team hosts UT Arlington (30-21, 16-10) inside Bobcat Ballpark. Game one is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m.
