Box Score

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State used some young arms and big hits to drop Prairie View, 13-7, Wednesday night, improving to 24-24 on the season. Morgan Mickan hit his third home run of the season to tie Austin O'Neal for the team lead. Mickan finished with four RBI on a 3-for-4 night with three runs scored while Nick Smelser nearly equaled him with three RBI on a 3-for-5 night with two runs.
 
The other Bobcat with multiple hits Wednesday was Andrew Stumph, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored along with a walk. Six other Bobcats tallied hits as Texas State finished the night with 14.
 
The Bobcats started quickly with three runs in the first. Kevin Sah led with a ground rule double that bounced over the right centerfield fence. Mickan plated Sah on the very next at bat with his own double, this one going to left centerfield. Two batters later, Stumph brought in Mickan with a single up the middle, then scored from second himself on a Colby Targun single through the right side.
 
In the fourth inning, Smelser was the first Bobcat on base with a single through the left side. On a hit and run play he went to third when Tyler Pearson sent a single through the right side. Sah put the ball in play after that, reaching on a fielder's choice, and Smelser scored on the play.
 
Texas State opened the game up with a big five-run inning in the fifth. Garrett Mattlage started with a walk and O'Neal was able to get on base next with a hit by pitch. Smelser plated Mattlage with a single to right field. After a Pearson walk, another Sah fielder's choice scored O'Neal. With two runners on base, Mickan continued showing off his newfound power with his third home run of the season to put the Bobcats up, 9-0.
 
Bobcat pitchers were on fire the first six innings, only allowing one hit, but Prairie View A&M was able to find its footing in the seventh and eighth innings. The Panthers tallied three runs on four consecutive singles in the seventh and made it a game with four runs in the eighth to pull within two, 9-7.
 
However, Ben McElroy and Smelser gave the Bobcats some breathing room in the bottom of the eighth inning. Mickan walked and Stumph and Mattlage were both hit by pitches to load the bases, McElroy singled to left field to score two runs, and then Smelser followed with a two-run double to push the lead to 13-7.
 
With Hunter Lemke closing down the ninth, the Panthers had little chance. He struck two out and picked up an assist, fielding a grounder for the final out of the game.
 
Texas State heads to Arlington this weekend for a pivotal series against UT Arlington. First pitches are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.