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San Marcos, Texas – No. 20 Texas State could not hold on to its 6-3 lead in the eighth inning as visiting Stephen F. Austin came from behind to defeat the Bobcats 8-6 in 10 innings on Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Ballpark.
Texas State dropped to 12-6 overall and 3-2 in Southland Conference play with the loss, while Stephen F.Austin improved to 7-11 overall and 2-3 in the conference.
The first four Texas State batters reached base on Saturday afternoon as Tyler Sibley and Brooks Orton both walked to begin the inning before a bunt single from Casey Kalenkosky loaded the bases. Jeff McVaney walked to bring home the first run of the game before Cody Gambill hit a sacrifice fly to plate Orton for a 2-0 advantage after one inning.
The Lumberjacks responded in the top of the second inning with three runs off of Texas State starter Kyle Finnegan, who entered the game having allowed just two earned runs all season.
The Bobcats retook the lead in the fifth inning when the team scored four runs to take a 6-3 lead. McVaney's RBI single began the scoring before an RBI double by Nick Smelser gave the home team the lead. Ben McElroy singled to bring home the third run of the inning before Garrett Mattlage flied out to deep right field for a sac fly that gave the Bobcats a three-run lead.
The visitors came back with three more runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game at 6-6 and eventually send the game into extra innings. The Bobcats had opportunities with runners in scoring position in both the eighth and ninth innings but could not push across a run to retake the lead.
In the top of the 10th inning, McVaney came on to get pitch and record a pair of quick outs before Stephen F. Austin second baseman Freddy Villalobos hit a two-run home run to give SFA an 8-6 lead, which would prove to be the final tally.
McVaney (0-1) was charged with his first loss of the season after allowing a pair of runs in one inning of work.
SFA reliever Alex Moshier improved to 2-0 after throwing 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball.
Offensively, Smelser was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI, while McVaney was 1 for 4 with a pair of RBIs and one run scored. Sibley also moved into sole possession of third place on Texas State's career stolen bases charts when he swiped third base to give him 47 for his career.
The Bobcats and Lumberjacks play at 1 p.m. at Bobcat Ballpark on Sunday to wrap up the series.
