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San Marcos, Texas – The No. 25 Texas State baseball team took the first game of the I-35 Rivalry Series 3-0 over UTSA. Carson Smith set a personal record with 14 strikeouts in the game. Smith (7-3) earned his seventh win of the season while Jeff McVaney picked up his fourth save.
Smith's final line included 14 strikeouts in eight innings on the mound without allowing a run. He allowed just two hits on the night while lowering his season ERA to 1.71.
UTSA starting pitcher Casey Selsor (4-5) was saddled with his fifth loss of the year.
It was clear the game would be a pitcher's duel from the results of the first inning. Smith started the game by striking out two of four batters in the inning, while Selsor got the Bobcats to go down 1-2-3.
Smith continued to pitch strong in the second, striking out two more batters. Once again, however, Selsor retired the Bobcats side in order.
History repeated itself in the top of the third. Smith recorded three strikeouts, giving him seven through three innings. Texas State (29-16, 18-7 SLC) got on base for the first time of the night when Cody Gambill walked and Christian Gallegos reached on a fielder's choice. After an errant pickoff throw to first by Selsor landed in right field, Gallegos rounded the bases to score and give Texas State the 1-0 lead.
The Roadrunners (22-25, 13-12 SLC) earned their first hit of the night in the top of the fourth as Tyler Carpenter singled to left field, but not before Smith struck out another batter to give him eight punch outs.
The fifth inning brought two more strikeouts for Smith, bringing his total to 10. Not to be outdone, Selsor carried a no-hitter after five innings.
Smith improved his strikeout total to 12 in the sixth inning, but found himself in a jam with runners on first and third. The Bobcats escaped the inning when Ryan Hutson was caught stealing from third after a UTSA double steal attempt.
Selsor's no-hitter was broken up in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles by Bret Atwood and Tyler Sibley.
Smith tied a personal best by recording his 13th strikeout in the seventh inning and set a career best of 14 in the eighth.
The Bobcats added two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure a lead. Kyle Kubitza hit a two-run sacrifice fly to deep center, driving in both Atwood from third base and Sibley from second base on the play.
McVaney came in to close the game for the Bobcats. After allowing runners on first and second, McVaney worked out of the jam and struck out the final batter of the night for the Bobcats' second shutout of the season.
The Bobcats will be in action again on Saturday, May 7 at 2 p.m. at Roadrunner Field in the second game of the I-35 Rivalry Series.
