TXST BASEBALL
Death, taxes and the Bobcats winning at the Disch.
Texas State pulled off another upset win, beating the No. 5 ranked Texas Longhorns 5-3 in the Bobcats fourth straight win at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
“It was just a big-time job of us bouncing back,” sophomore pitcher Alex Valentin said, who came from the bullpen in the bottom of the ninth inning to earn his first save of the season. “We’ve been in a little rough patch the last few weeks, but we came into this game with the same expectation to win. Nobody expected us to win except for us. … If you’re not in our locker room, we don’t care who you are.”
Freshman Caden Baker slides into home plate to score the first run for the Bobcats. Photo submitted by Texas State Athletics
Ian Collier connects with a two-run home run that went 453 feet in the Bobcats 5-3 win over No. 5 Texas. Photo submitted by Texas State Athletics
Coming off a tough loss to Coastal Carolina on Sunday, Head Coach Steven Trout was proud of his team for the bounce back win and continuing to battle on offense despite being no-hit in 7.2 innings.
“Obviously winning on the road here is a big deal,” Trout said. “Going back to the offense, we’re getting no hits with two outs in the eighth left, [but] it didn’t really feel that way to be honest with you. We got four hits in a row, and, to us, it’s just getting to the next moment and finally to get it done. That’s what we talked about is just grinding out at bats and coming up with a big hit when you need it.”
The Bobcats struck first in the top of the third inning. After getting runners on base following two walks, freshman second baseman Dawson Park hit a deep sacrifice fly into center field to score the first run.
The Longhorns tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, hitting a one-out solo home run and making the score 1-1.
After two scoreless innings, the Longhorns answered back. With runners on the corners, the Bobcats committed a balk and scored the runner from third base, allowing the Longhorns to go up 2-1.
The Longhorns later loaded up the bases with two outs, but junior pitcher Carson Laws delivered the strikeout for the final out to strand all three runners.
Following back to back strikeouts, the Bobcats finally found their first hit of the game in the top of the eighth inning.
Facing a 1-2 count, sophomore shortstop Ryne Farber hit a two-out double to put a runner in scoring position for the Bobcats, giving Texas State their first hit of the game.
In the next at-bat, freshman second baseman Dawson Park hit an RBI triple in center field, tying the game at 2-2.
Junior third baseman Chase Mora then scored Park on an infield single, giving the Bobcats a 3-2 lead. Senior catcher Ian Collier responded with a two-run home run, driving the ball 453 feet over the wall in right field and extending the lead 5-2.
“Hitting is contagious,” Collier said “It just takes one guy to get going and we just need one after another while staying in our approach. No one got down when we were getting no hits, so far into the game. We just stayed at it one pitch at the time and was able to get it done.”
The Longhorns made their comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning. After a lead-off walk, the Longhorns connected with an RBI double, cutting the Bobcat lead down to 5-3.
The bases were then loaded with one-out as the Longhorns threatened to not only tie the game but win it.
However, the comeback was all for not. Valentin, who came in from the bullpen to close out the inning, shut the door on a Longhorn victory by forcing a fly out before Park caught the line drive single at second for the final out and sealed the Bobcat win.
My biggest thing was getting out number one,” Valentin said. “Out number one is huge and throwing strike one. I knew I had an opportunity to go and get the next guy. The one run didn’t matter, the win is what matters.”
Despite the rough start in the ninth inning, Trout had full confidence in Valentin’s ability to close out the game.
“He’s an emotional guy,” Trout said. “You could see it there when he started feeling it and started getting going a little bit, we knew we were in good hands. … You just have to keep playing. We tell our guys you can’t control balls and strikes. You just throw control where you throw it. So he finally got in there, started competing like he does. Once I saw him getting going a little bit, I knew we were in good hands.”
Texas State returns to play Friday night on the road against Louisiana.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
Shane Connell got his first start this season, allowing just three hits, one earned run and striking out four batters in the win over No. 5 Texas. Photo submitted by Texas State Athletics
