Texas State suffered its third loss in four games on Tuesday as the Bobcats fell to Incarnate Word on the road, 6-1.
The Cardinals struck first with a run in the bottom of the third inning, but junior infielder Jaxon Williams got the visitors right back into the game. After sophomore infielder Dalton Shuffield struck out in the first at-bat of the fourth inning, Williams launched his first pitch over the left center field fence to tie the game at 1-1.
But the hosts scored four runs in the bottom of the frame to push back ahead and added another in the fifth inning to extend their lead. Texas State made one last rally attempt in the top of the ninth.
After the Bobcats’ first two batters fouled out, redshirt junior outfielder Will Hollis reached first base with a single to right field. Redshirt senior outfielder Skyler Valentine followed with another single and the two advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. Junior infielder Cole Coffey was walked at the next trip to the plate, loading the bases for the maroon and gold.
However, UIW picked up the ground out on the next play, securing the 6-1 victory.
Hollis led the Bobcats batting 2-3 and extended his on-base streak to 15 games. Willams and Valentine were the only other players who registered a hit, each going 1-4. Junior right-handed pitcher Garrett Herrmann (2-1) took the loss, giving up five runs on six hits in 3.1 innings.
Texas State (12-9, 1-2 Sun Belt) will return to conference play when it hosts Louisiana-Monroe for a home series inside Bobcat Ballpark, beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
