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Houston, Texas – Texas State took a four-run lead early in its game Tuesday night against No. 9 Rice but could not hold on as the Owls came back to edge the Bobcats, 6-5, at Reckling Park in Houston to even the season series at one game apiece.
The Bobcats were bidding for their first season sweep of Rice since 1988. The team defeated the Owls at Bobcat Ballpark, 3-2, on March 6.
Texas State jumped in front early with a 1-0 lead after some small ball paid off. Tyler Sibley was hit by the first pitch of the game and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Cody Gambill. Sibley went to third on a groundout before scampering home for the first run of the game when Rice starting pitcher Jordan Stephens threw his first pitch to Casey Kalenkosky to the backstop.
After Rice tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning, Texas State scored four runs on just one hit in the third inning to take a 5-1 advantage. The Bobcats loaded the bases without the help of a hit and then Andrew Stumph drew a walk to bring home a Texas State run. Rice made a pitching change and head coach Ty Harrington countered by inserting Cody Lovejoy in the designated hitter spot. The move paid off as Lovejoy delivered a bases-clearing double down the right field line that made the score 5-1 Texas State.
The home team would chip away from that point, scoring one in the fourth and fifth innings to pull within two, 5-3, before a three-run seventh inning for the Owls gave them their first lead of the game, 6-5.
The Bobcats had a great opportunity to tie the game or take the lead in the eighth inning when Stumph and Lovejoy took back-to-back walks to open the inning. A sacrifice bunt from Joey Fuda moved both runners into scoring position, but they would remain there as Rice reliever J.T. Chargois got out of the inning with a strikeout and ground out to keep Texas State off the scoreboard.
That would be the best opportunity Texas State had to retake the lead as the Bobcats fell to 20-12 overall this season. Meanwhile, Rice improved to 24-11 with the win.
Texas State starter Taylor Black pitched six innings and allowed four runs as he earned his first career no-decision. Donnie Hart (0-1) took his first loss of the season after allowing one run in relief.
Rice's Tyler Duffey (1-1) pitched three scoreless innings in relief to earn the victory.
Texas State recorded four hits on Tuesday night, led by Lovejoy's 1 for 2 day at the plate with three RBIs. Sibley, Fuda and Jeff McVaney also tallied base knocks for the Bobcats.
Texas State will continue on its season-long eight-game road trip on Friday when the Bobcats visit Hammond, La., for the first game of a three-game set with Southeastern Louisiana. First pitch of game one of the series is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Kenelly Diamond.
