Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Texas State and Western Kentucky went back and forth for four and a half innings until the Hilltoppers scored two runs in the fifth. They followed with two more in the sixth and the Bobcats could only muster one run in the top of the ninth to fall to WKU, 4-1, in the team's second conference series opener of the season. The loss drops Texas State to 13-8 and 3-1 in the Sun Belt while WKU pulls even with the Bobcats in the SBC with a 3-1 record and sit 13-9 overall.
 
The Bobcats had their work cut out for them as the Hilltoppers are a tough team on their home field. Western Kentucky came into Friday's game sitting 8-1 at home.
 
All four of Western Kentucky's runs came with two outs in the inning. In the fifth, outfielder Anderson Miller led off with a single up the middle and third baseman Thomas Peter took a base on a hit by pitch. The both moved ahead on a sacrifice bunt and the next batter struck out.
 
Then, with two outs, second baseman Scott Wilcox sent a shot right up the middle to plate both runners and claim a 2-0 lead. The next batter grounded out.
 
In the sixth, Taylor Black, who pitched a complete game, allowing eight hits, striking out five and walking one, induced two groundouts. After that, consecutive singles from catcher Ryan Messex and Anderson put on two runners. Then Peter knocked a double to left field to push the WKU lead to 4-0.
 
A ninth-inning sacrifice fly from Garrett Mattlage to score Matt Smith was all the Bobcats could muster in response.
 
Smith, Tyler Pearson, David Paiz and Cory Geisler were the only Bobcats to knock a hit to give Texas State four on the night. Western Kentucky finished with eight.
 
Both teams only played 10 players each in a quick two-hour game. The Bobcats will look to bounce back against the Hilltoppers at 3 p.m. Saturday.