Box Score

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San Marcos, Texas – Texas State broke a late tie with a three-run eighth inning to propel the Bobcats to a 6-3 victory over visiting Sam Houston State in the first game of a three-game series at Bobcat Ballpark.

The win improved Texas State's record to 13-4 overall and 4-0 in the Southland Conference, while the Bearkats fell to 12-6 overall and 1-3 in the SLC.

Carson Smith made his fourth start of the season and finished with the no-decision after tossing 7 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. The right-hander allowed 12 hits by the visitors but was able to work out of several jams while allowing just three runs.

Fielding Pittman entered in relief of Smith in the top of the eighth inning and retired the two batters he faced before Joseph Dvorsky came in to record his fourth save of the season after working around a pair of walks and a hit.

Pittman (1-0) earned his first victory of 2011, and Sam Houston State's Michael Oros (0-1) was charged with the loss.

The Bobcats fell behind 2-0 after the first half inning, but Texas State responded with single runs in the bottom of the second and third to knot the game at 2-2. That score would remain until the bottom of the seventh when Jeff McVaney doubled down the left-field line to give the Bobcats a 3-2 lead, but the Bearkats answered with a run in the eighth to make the score 3-3.

Texas State did not waste time regaining the lead as the Bobcats scored three times in the bottom of the eighth to take a 6-3 lead. Isaac Nuti roped a two-RBI double down the right field line, and Bret Atwood brought home another run on a single through the left side as the Bobcats took the three-run advantage to set Dvorsky up for the save.

Sophomore Andrew Stumph hit his second home run of the season in the second inning as part of a 1-for-4 night at the plate. Stumph was one of nine Bobcats to record a hit in the game.