Box Score

SAN MARCOS – Texas State outlasted the powerful UC Riverside offense in a hitfest Saturday that culminated in a Granger Studdard two-out, two-RBI single to win it, 8-7, in a pinch hitting situation in the 10^th inning and improve the Bobcats to 4-2 heading into Sunday's series finale.
 
In a contrast to Friday's low-scoring affair, Texas State put up 12 hits to UC Riverside's 15 and fought back from four separate deficits to finally win it in the end.
 
The Highlanders were able to score a run in the top of the 10^th inning to break a 6-6 tie. Shortstop Nick Vitter led off with a triple and pinch hitter Matthew Ellis brought him in with a single. After that, Hunter Lemke made short work of UCR in the inning, adding his only strikeout of the night en route to his second win of the season.
 
With a chance to answer, Texas State clinched the victory. Cody Lovejoy led off with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Garrett Mattlage followed with a walk, and then Head Coach Ty Harrington pinch hit Studdard. Down 0-1 in the count, Studdard sent the second pitch through the left gap to plate Lovejoy with ease. Mattlage sped around third and was able to beat an off target throw for the victory.
 
Cory Geisler took a break from the mound Saturday to play outfield and swing the bat a few times for the Bobcats. He might see more of that after an impressive 3-for-4 day and knocking two RBI to tie the game on two separate occasions, including in the seventh inning to tie it up before extra innings.
 
Matt Smith was just behind Geisler with two hits, scoring two runs Saturday. Seven other Bobcats tallied a hit in the game, but none more important than Studdard's two-RBI shot.
 
In addition to Lemke, sophomore Justin Dellinger stood out on the mound. He entered the game in the eighth inning needing one out to bring the Bobcats back up to bat, but faced a runner at third base. He fanned the batter in the important situation, and then started the ninth with another strikeout against leadoff batter Joe Chavez (.423). The third strike was a speedy fastball. Dellinger forced a fly ball for the second out before giving it up to Lemke to finish the game.
 
Both teams scored in the opening inning. UC Riverside knocked four hits in the first frame to score two runs, but the Bobcats answered in the bottom of the inning. After a walk and a hit by pitch, Mattlage sent one to the outfield to tie the game.
 
The Highlanders kept the pressure on with two more runs in the top of the second. In the bottom of the third, Smith started the Bobcats with a leadoff double to deep left field. After two outs, Tanner Hill plated Smith with a double down the left line to close the gap to one run, 4-3.
 
After UC Riverside scored in the top of the fifth, Texas State bounced back in the bottom of the inning. Both Mattlage and David Paiz reached on errors and Hill followed with a walk to load the bases with no outs. Colby Targun was able to score Mattlage on a sacrifice fly and Geisler followed with a hit to right field to plate Paiz from second base, tying the game, 5-5.
 
Vilter responded with a solo home run in the sixth to regain the lead for the Highlanders, 6-5. After that reliever Andrew Boes struck two out and finished the rest of the inning with ease.
 
The Bobcats were able to tie it up again on a Geisler's seventh-inning hit. Paiz led off with a walk and Tyler Pearson followed with a single to left. Paiz went to third on a fielder's choice, and Geisler came through with his second big RBI to score Paiz with a shot through the left side to tie it, 6-6.
 
Texas State looked to have an opportunity to win it in the ninth. The first batter of the inning went to second on a hit by pitch, and Preston Dorsey, pinch running for Hill, went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Colby Targun swung on an 0-2 pitch and lined one down the right line for what everyone in Bobcat Ballpark thought was the winner. The umpired called it foul, and the Bobcats would have to wait for Studdard's heroics in the 10^th.
 
The Bobcats will look for the sweep against UC Riverside in the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday.