Box Score

HOUSTON, Texas – Texas State grabbed a 3-2 lead against No. 18 Rice in the top of the third and did not give up another run until the bottom of the ninth. The Owls tied it in the ninth and won it in the 12^th inning on an RBI single up the middle for the 4-3 victory.
 
Catcher Tyler Pearson had a strong performance in his return to Reckling Park, leading the offense with a 3-for-5 night at the plate, but it was Garrett Mattlage who came up with the biggest hit for the Bobcats. Trailing, 2-0, in the top of the third, Texas State loaded the bases for him. He came through with two outs and a full count to bring in all the base runners with a standup double to the right field corner. The three RBI were almost enough.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Rice's designated hitter Michael Aquino led off with a single. He went all the way to third on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt. With men at second and third, Texas State took advantage of the open base to intentionally walk Michael Ratterree. Skyler Ewing, with bases loaded, worked the count for a walk and an RBI to tie the game.
 
Hunter Lemke rebounded later in the inning with the play Texas State needed to stay alive. The bases were still loaded with just one out when third baseman Kirby Taylor popped up a bunt. Lemke made the catch for the second time in the inning, but this time he rifled it to third for the double play.
 
Ratterree led off with a single in the bottom of the 12^th inning. He hit a high pop up that landed in no man's land along the shallow right field line. To follow that, there was a controversial ruling on whether Ewing was hit by a pitch or hit a foul ball. The umpires eventually ruled it a hit by pitch, putting runners at first and second with no outs in the inning.
 
After Rice's third popped up bunt of the night and a strikeout, Christian Stringer, 2-for-6 on the night to that point, sent one up the middle to end the game and score Ratterree, the leadoff hitter of the inning.
 
Lucas Humpal made his career longest outing, going five innings to start the game. He gave up seven hits and two runs with two strikeouts and a walk. Rice finished the game with 13 hits to Texas State's seven and left 15 on base to Texas State's six.
 
The Bobcats went three up, three down to start the game, and Rice answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. The Owls used three singles to claim the early 1-0 lead. Rice added a run in the second, but Texas State erased the deficit in the third with Mattlage's three-run double.
 
Pearson led the inning with a single to shallow right field. After two outs, the top of the lineup came up big. Kevin Sah earned a walk, and Morgan Mickan took first on a hit by pitch. That's when Mattlage gave TXST the lead.
 
After Texas State pulled ahead, the two teams continued to play scoreless baseball. Covey Morrow came in to keep the lead for Texas State in a big situation in the sixth. The bases were loaded with two outs and the Bobcats clinging to a one-run lead. Morrow not only struck out Stringer, the senior second baseman, but caught him looking.
 
Donnie Hart also prevailed in a tough situation in the seventh. Rice loaded the bases with two outs, still trailing by one, but Hart forced a fielder's choice from Ewing. The Bobcats got the out at second. Hart also struck a batter out and forced a groundout in the inning. Hart continued to pitch in the eighth, retiring three of four batters to maintain the Texas State lead.
 
In the ninth, looking for insurance, Mattlage led off with a single up the middle. He went to second when Ben McElroy was hit by a pitch. Pearson made his second hit of the day with a single to shallow left field, but Mattlage tried to take two bases on the play. The left fielder threw him out at home to end the inning and put the pressure on in the bottom of the ninth.
 
After Rice tied the game in the ninth, Mattlage made an outstanding play for the second out of the 10^th inning. He ran nearly to the foul line in shallow right field and made a diving, twisting catch for the out. Lemke took care of the other two outs of the inning with two strikeouts.
 
Texas State put together another outstanding defensive play to end the 11^th inning. J.D. Stinnett caught a line drive and was able to get it to Mattlage, who was sprinting to second, in time for the double play. Unfortunately it wouldn't be enough for the Bobcats.
 
The Bobcats return home to host Prairie View A&M at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday before heading to Sacramento, Calif., for a road series against Sacramento State over the weekend.