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San Marcos, Texas – Senior Tyler Sibley hit a 1-2 pitch back through the middle for a two-RBI single that gave No. 21 Texas State a 3-2 victory over No. 4 Rice on Tuesday night at Bobcat Ballpark in front of 1,920 fans - the fifth largest crowd in Bobcat Ballpark history. Junior Morgan Mickan slid into home just in front of the throw from Rice centerfielder Michael Fuda for the winning run to give the Bobcats their seventh consecutive victory.

With one out in the ninth inning and the Bobcats trailing 2-1, pinch hitter Kevin Sah walked to put the tying run on board. Mickan came up next and executed a hit and run to perfection as he lined a single to center that allowed Sah to get to third base with one out. Mickan then stole second base to eliminate the double play and set up Sibley for the game-winning hit.

“I can't think of many other better endings,” Sibley said. “The crowd, the atmosphere, the excitement, the streak – it was kind of a perfect storm tonight, and that was something we're so fortunate to be a part of.”

In the victory, the Bobcats saw their scoreless innings streak pitched end at 57 2/3 innings after Rice tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the eighth inning. The streak came up just six 1/3 innings shy of the NCAA record of 64 innings set in 1972 by Arizona State. Texas State's streak began during the Bobcats' series with Houston on February 25 and spanned two games with the Cougars, a game with No. 18 TCU, three games with Notre Dame and the first seven 1/3 innings against Rice.

Dylan Adamek came in to relieve starter Mitchell Pitts and gave up a wind-aided double over the head of left fielder Brooks Orton. The runner moved to third on a fly out that caused the Bobcats to bring the infield in with a 1-0 lead. Rice pinch hitter J.T. Chargois then hit a single past a diving Sibley to bring home the first run against Texas State in a week and a half.

Rice then took the lead in the top of the ninth inning after a leadoff walk came around to score and give the Owls a 2-1 lead before the Texas State heroics in the bottom of the inning.

Pitts dazzled for his second start in a row for Texas State, throwing seven shutout innings and allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out three batters. The senior retired nine batters in a row through the middle innings and left with a 1-0 lead but settled for the no-decision.

“I thought Mitchell Pitts pitched exceptionally well tonight,” said head coach Ty Harrington.

Adamek (1-1) picked up his first win of the season after throwing two innings of relief.

Sibley finished the game 2 for 5 and knocked in all three runs for Texas State. His three RBIs gave him 100 for his career, moving him into 13^th place on the Bobcat career list. The senior from Frisco also extended his on-base streak to all 12 games this season.

Mickan went 2 for 4 with the game-winning run scored, while Garrett Mattlage was 1 for 3 with a run scored and Cody Perkins finished 1 for 2.