Box Score

SAN MARCOS, Texas – In front of a crowd of 2,512, third all-time in Bobcat Ballpark history, Tuesday night's game started off on an emotional note, but ended with Texas State beating Texas A&M, 4-1. The Bobcats opened the game with a ceremonial first pitch honoring those lost in the tragedy in West, and then took care of business once the game started.
 
Catcher Tyler Pearson led the way for the Bobcats with a perfect 3-for-3 night, scoring a run and knocking an RBI. Cody Lovejoy and J.D. Stinnett also picked up RBIs in the game while Kevin Sah, West native Garrett Mattlage and Nick Smelser tallied a hit each.
 
Texas State used efficient scoring (four runs on six hits) and strong defense to take down the Aggies. The Bobcat pitching staff featured starter Lucas Humpal, Scott Grist, Austen Williams, Donnie Hart and Hunter Lemke. Those five and the defense behind them only allowed one run on eight hits. Smelser was especially effective, logging three assists.
 
The pitching staff combined for nine strikeouts and did not walk a single Aggie. In three innings, Grist struck out three while Williams and Lemke each struck out two. Williams, Hart and Lemke pitched the final three innings and only gave up two hits while Lemke picked up his seventh save of the season, moving him into a third place tie for most saves in a season ever for Texas State. Three more will set a new Texas State record.
 
Lemke isn't the only one moving up the season record books. Sah stole two bases against A&M Tuesday night to give him 21 on the season, tying him for third most in a season. He stole his first one of the night in the opening inning.
 
Texas A&M started with a run in the top of the first, but the Bobcats answered in the bottom of the inning. Sah, as he usually does, started Texas State off, earning a walk, and then he stole second. He moved to third on a Morgan Mickan sacrifice bunt. Next, Lovejoy grounded out to the shortstop, but the speedy Sah scored on the play to tie the game, 1-1.
 
After forcing a three up, three down inning defensively, the Bobcats began to build a lead in the second inning. Ben McElroy walked to put a runner on, and Smelser and Pearson followed with consecutive singles through the right side. McElroy went to third on Smelser's hit and scored the go ahead run on Pearson's. Smelser scored next on a Stinnett sacrifice fly. With just Pearson on base, Sah sent a grounder to the shortstop who couldn't handle it. Pearson came across home to put Texas State up, 4-1.
 
After a scoreless third, Texas A&M threatened to put up a big inning, but Smelser's heads up play at third base stalled the Aggies. Texas A&M led off with consecutive singles and used a sacrifice bunt to put both runners in scoring position with just one out. The next batter sent a grounder to Smelser and he showed as if he was going to make the routine play at first so the runner at third took off for home. Smelser pulled back and fired it to Pearson to get the leadoff runner out. Grist caught the next batter looking for the third out of the inning.
 
The Bobcats continued their defensive play the rest of the way and the Aggies picked theirs up, only allowing three base runners after the fourth inning.
 
Texas State will stay home this weekend to host WAC leader CSU Bakersfield in a battle for the top spot in the conference. The Bobcats are just two games behind CSUB and could make up ground in a hurry with the series starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday and continuing into Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at noon.
 
For those fans that weren't able to attend Tuesday's game, but would still like to contribute to the relief effort in West, please donate online to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation or mail donations to:
 
POINTWEST Bank
200 W. Oak St.
West, TX 76691