Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Huntsville, Texas – One big inning was enough for Sam Houston State on Friday night in Huntsville as No. 23 Texas State fell to the Bearkats, 4-3, at Sanders Stadium in game one of the three-game series.
The Bobcats controlled the first six innings of the ballgame before a four-run seventh inning put the home team in the lead for good.
Sam Houston State (12-9) moved one game ahead of Texas State (14-7) in the Southland Conference standings with the win. The Bearkats improved to 5-2 in the league, while Bobcats fell to 4-3.
The Bobcats put together a ninth inning rally and nearly came back from their two-run deficit entering the final inning before running out of outs. Trailing 4-2 going into the ninth, Casey Kalenkosky walked to begin the inning and Jeff McVaney followed with a double to put runners on second and third with no outs. An RBI groundout from Andrew Stumph made the score 4-3, but McVaney would remain stranded at second for the final two outs of the game.
Texas State starter Travis Ballew cruised through the first six innings, allowing just four hits while striking out six and keeping the home team off the scoreboard. However, the junior ran into trouble in the seventh inning as the Bearkats scored four runs on four hits, including a two-run home run from Anthony Azar,
Ballew (4-2) was charged with his second loss of the season after allowing four runs over seven innings. He struck out seven batters and walked just two on the evening.
Sam Houston State starter Cody Dickson (3-2) picked up his third win of the season after allowing three runs over eight innings.
The Bobcats took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Nick Smelser brought home McVaney with an RBI single. McVaney reached on an error to start the inning before stealing his third base of the season to move into scoring position.
Smelser then gave Texas State a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning when he led off the inning with his first career home run as a Bobcat. The junior ripped a line drive over the left field fence for his eighth RBI of the season.
Smelser led the Bobcat offense with a 2 for 4 day at the plate, while Stumph (1 for 4), McVaney (1 for 4), Brooks Orton (1 for 4) and Cody Gambill (1 for 3) all recorded a hit.
Texas State and Sam Houston State will play game two of the three-game set on Saturday at 4 p.m. Junior LHP Colton Turner (1-0, 1.01) is scheduled to pitch for the Bobcats.
