Box Score

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State used some fresh faces to tame Houston Baptist, 7-3, in the midweek game Tuesday night to improve to 21-23 on the season. Freshmen Cory Geisler and Matt Smith paced the Bobcats, combining for three hits, two RBI and two runs scored while Austin O'Neal was a perfect 2-for-2 with a run.
 
Kyle Finnegan put in good work on the mound as he struck out five batters and walked one in three innings. He only gave up one hit, but it was a home run. He rebounded to retire seven of the next eight batters on his way to the win to improve to 4-2 on the year.
 
Scott Grist started the game and did not allow hit in two innings, striking out one and walking none. Donnie Hart and Hunter Lemke also continued their great play. Hart only gave up one hit and struck out one while Lemke struck all three batters out in the ninth inning.
 
Texas State scored first in the bottom of the second inning. O'Neal led with a double to left center and moved to third on a passed ball. Nick Smeler knocked a sacrifice fly to center field to put the Bobcats' first run of the night on the board.
 
Houston Baptist countered with a solo home run, but Texas State responded with three runs in the third. Smith walked to start the inning, then Cody Lovejoy and Andrew Stumph followed with walks of their own. Smith scored on a wild pitch during O'Neal's at bat, then Houston Baptist walked O'Neal.
 
With bases still loaded, HBU pitcher Brandon Hammerly walked his fourth consecutive batter to score Lovejoy. Stumph scored next on an infield single from Geisler to put the Bobcats up, 4-1. From there, the game was never in doubt.
 
Cody Perkins, getting his first start at catcher, walked, and Smith singled down the left line behind him. Garrett Mattlage singled to left field after that to score both runners and push the lead to 6-1.
 
The Huskies were able to score two runs in the seventh, but Texas State came back with another run. Ben McElroy, taking over for O'Neal at first, walked and was sacrificed over to second. Geisler knocked his second hit of the day up the middle for his second RBI to put the Bobcats ahead, 7-3.
 
Texas State's next action will come in San Antonio as the Bobcats travel to face UTSA in a WAC series starting at 6 p.m. Friday with games at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.