Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Thibodaux, La. – Texas State trailed by two heading to the eighth inning before coming back with four runs over the final two innings to take a 7-5 victory over Nicholls on Saturday afternoon at Ray E. Didier Field in Thibodaux, La. With the win, the Bobcats clinch the series against the Colonels.
With the score 3-2 in favor of Nicholls heading to the seventh inning, Morgan Mickan led off the frame with a walk before stealing second base to move into scoring position. Tyler Sibley came up next and singled up the middle to bring home Mickan and tie the game at 3-3.
Nicholls retook the lead, 5-3, in the bottom of the inning as the Colonels chased Texas State starting pitcher Colton Turner from the game and benefitted from a pair of Bobcat errors in the frame.
However, the Bobcats would respond in the top of the eighth inning. An RBI groundout from Brooks Orton brought home pinch runner Cody Lovejoy for a 5-4 score, and Mickan came up next and delivered an RBI double down the right field line to tie the game at 5-5.
Louis Head came in to pitch the eighth inning for Texas State and sat down the Colonels in order to keep the game tied heading to the ninth.
Casey Kalenkosky led off the ninth inning with a triple to the gap in left center to put the go-ahead run at third base. Isaac Nuti came up next and doubled to right center, bringing home Kalenkosky for a 6-5 Texas State lead. A groundout moved Nuti to third base, and Andrew Stumph laid down a squeeze bunt that brought home Nuti for a 7-5 score.
Head (1-1) struck out two batters as part of a perfect ninth inning to secure the Texas State victory, earning his first win of the season in the process.
Texas State won its fifth straight game to improve to 25-16 overall and 13-10 in the Southland Conference, while Nicholls dropped to 20-22 overall and 8-15 in the SLC.
Sibley led the Bobcats at the plate with a 3 for 4 day at the plate that included a walk, run scored and RBI. The senior also added two stolen bases, increasing his team-leading total for the season to 14.
Jeff McVaney finished Saturday's game 2 for 5 with an RBI, while six other Bobcats added one hit each offensively.
Texas State and Nicholls wrap up the series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Ray E. Didier Field. Texas State will send sophomore RHP Kyle Finnegan (5-3, 3.06 ERA) to the mound.
