Texas State loses series opener against Little Rock

Little Rock downed Texas State in walk-off fashion Friday night. 

The Trojans captured a 4-3 win over the Bobcats in 10 innings at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock, Ark. 

Little Rock (23-25, 14-10 Sun Belt) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when senior designated hitter Riley Pittman hit a solo homer. 

But Texas State (33-16, 17-8) answered in the second inning when senior first baseman Ryan Newman launched his fifth homer of the season over the right-field wall. Newman’s solo homer knotted Friday’s contest at 1-1. 

Little Rock regained the lead when senior second baseman Chase Coker slapped a hanging pitch over the right-field wall to put the Trojans on top 2-1.

Again, the Bobcats quickly responded. Senior third baseman Jaylen Hubbard tallied his 45th career double to tie Paul Goldschmidt for third in program history. Junior second baseman Jaxon Williams followed with an RBI single to score Hubbard and tie the game. Sophomore right fielder John Wuthrich ripped a double down the left-field line and sophomore shortstop Dalton Shuffield hit an RBI single to give Texas State a 3-2 advantage. 

But Little Rock senior left fielder Troy Alexander smacked a solo homer to tie the game at 3-3. 

Texas State had an opportunity to take the lead in the 10th inning but senior Jacob Almendarez, who was brought in as a punch runner, was thrown at third. Little Rock held steady and prevented the Bobcats from retaking the lead.

The Trojans began the bottom of the 10th with a one-out, bunt single from Coker. A chopper by sophomore center fielder Eldrige Figueroa got over Newman’s head and Coker was able to race home to win the game, 4-3. 

Senior lefty Brandon Lewis was handed the loss after throwing 1.2 innings of relief. He tallied five strikeouts. Senior right-hander Donavin Buck secured the victory for Little Rock after he threw a scoreless inning and recorded two strikeouts. 

Texas State wasted a solid effort on the mound from starting pitcher Nicholas Fraze, who only gave up three hits on six hits and struck out eight. 

Hubbard and Wuthrich were the lone Bobcats to tally extra-base hits. Hubbard extended his on-base streak to 22 games. 

Texas State continued its series against Little Rock on Saturday, which ended after press time. The Trojans and Bobcat conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.