Box Score

SAN MARCOS – Texas State survived a pitchers' duel in the opening game of this weekend's series against Wagner. Due to good eyes at the plate and strong situational pitching from Ross Goebel, the Bobcats claimed a 3-1 victory to improve to 7-2 on the season.

Wagner scored first in the sixth inning, but had an opportunity for more in the seventh if it wasn't for Goebel. After consecutive walks put two runners on base, Goebel entered the game to force a fly out and a sacrifice bunt. He intentionally walked Nick Dini, who was 1-for-3 at that point in the game, to load the bases and face Chris Smith. Goebel made short work of Smith with an impressive strikeout to keep the deficit at just one run. The Bobcats rewarded him in the bottom of the inning.
 
Colby Targun started the Bobcats off with a single and went to second on a groundout. David Paiz brought him home with a pop-up double along the right field line that the rightfielder just couldn't get to. Targun scored from second to tie it up, but the Bobcats would have to wait until the eighth to take the lead.
 
Tyler Pearson and Cory Geisler both walked and Ben McElroy reached on an error to load the bases. With no room for error, Wagner pitcher Mike Adams walked Targun and Garrett Mattlage to give the Bobcats the lead and eventually the game.
 
Early in the game, Lucas Humpal and Wagner starter Ryan Casey went back and forth through five innings, only allowing seven hits between the two of them. But Wagner was able to finally score in the sixth inning.
 
After a single and a walk put runners at first and second, first baseman Tommy Mazurkiewicz sent a two-out single to right centerfield. Both the base runners took two bases with second baseman Dan Wasilick scoring from second for the short-lived 1-0 Wagner lead.
 
The Bobcats tried to answer in the bottom of the inning with two men on thanks to consecutive hit by pitches. Unfortunately consecutive fly outs ended the opportunity for Texas State, but the Bobcats would get the last laugh.
 
Mattlage led Texas State on a 2-for-4 night with a walk and an RBI. Targun, Paiz, Austin O'Neal and Geisler provided the rest of the Bobcat hits. Humpal struck out seven and Goebel tallied three strikeouts.
 
The Bobcats and the Seahawks will finalize the series with a doubleheader on Saturday. The first game is slated for 2 p.m. with the second game to follow at 6:30 p.m.