Box Score

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Texas State scored a run in the opening inning and added two more in the sixth, but it was not enough to beat No. 4 Oregon State as the Bobcats went on to fall, 6-3, Saturday to drop to 5-9 on the season.
 
First baseman Ben McElroy continued his strong hitting with a 2-for-4 day to lead Texas State. He notched an RBI along with designated hitter Andrew Stumph and catcher Tyler Pearson. McElroy was the only Bobcat with multiple hits while Colby Targun, Garrett Mattlage and Nick Smelser each tallied a hit along with Stumph.
 
Pitcher Taylor Black walked two and struck out five while giving up eight hits and four earned runs in 6.1 innings. Donnie Hart, Lucas Humpal, Austen Williams and Covey Morrow also saw time.
 
Targun knocked his hit in the first, a single to centerfield and moved all the way to third on passed balls. Stumph singled next to plate Targun and claim an early lead on the Beavers.
 
Unfortunately, Oregon State answered in the fourth with three runs. Shortstop Tyler Smith started with a leadoff triple to deep centerfield. He scored next on a Michael Conforto single through the right side. The next Beaver singled, but Black forced the two batters after that to fly out. Kavin Keyes, however, hit a two-out single to left field to score Conforto. Jake Rodriguez did the exact same thing on the next at bat to put the Beavers up 3-1.
 
Oregon State added another run in the fifth but the Bobcats answered with two in the sixth. Targun walked followed by a Mattlage double to center field. Pearson brought in Targun on a sacrifice fly and McElroy picked up his RBI on a single to left field, scoring Mattlage to pull Texas State within a run. The Bobcats would only make one more hit the rest of the way.
 
The Beavers scored a run in both the seventh and eighth innings off a combination of walks and singles.
 
Texas State will finish the series against No. 4 Oregon State at at 3:05 p.m. Sunday with Scott Grist on the mound. The Bobcats will follow up with two games against No. 11 Oregon at 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday (all times Central Standard Time).