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San Marcos, Texas – An inside-the-park home run and 13 strikeouts by Bobcat pitchers turned out to be the difference on Friday evening as the Texas State baseball team defeated Houston, 2-1, in game one of the three-game set at Bobcat Ballpark.
Tyler Sibley made his 13th career home run a memorable one as he hit a two-run inside-the-park homer to lift a stagnant Bobcat offense. Texas State had just two hits on the evening, but it was enough as the team improved to 10-3 overall. The Bobcats have now won four consecutive games against Houston, dating back to last season.
Carson Smith got the start for the third time this season and pitched seven innings while allowing just one earned run. The preseason all-American tied his career high for the second straight game with 10 strikeouts as he improved to 2-1 this season. His ERA stands at 1.95 after Friday's game.
Houston evened its record at 7-7 overall with the loss. Mo Wiley (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing two earned runs over five innings on the mound.
“Our hitting still hasn't come around, but our fielding picked up the slack,” said Bobcat head coach Ty Harrington. “I was impressed by our fielding and good relief pitching.”
After Joey Fuda grounded out to begin the bottom of the third inning, Isaac Nuti walked to put one on with one out. Sibley came to the plate next and worked the count full before hitting a line drive to right-center that rolled to the wall after a failed diving attempt from Houston center fielder Landon Appling. Sibley never slowed down as he rounded the bases and beat the throw home for his second home run of the season.
In the next half inning, Houston cut its deficit in half when Jake Runte hit Smith's first pitch of the inning over the fence in left-center for a solo homer, making the score 2-1 in favor of the Bobcats.
Smith would hold the Bobcats' 2-1 lead over the next three innings before giving way to Fielding Pittman who pitched a hitless top of the eighth inning. Joseph Dvorsky came in the ninth inning and needed just 10 pitches to sit down the Cougars in order for his third save of the season.
The Bobcats and Cougars return to Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday afternoon for game two of the series at 2:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the gate.
