Box Score SAN ANTONIO – Texas State and UTSA got together for another good game with a late comeback Wednesday night. This time, unfortunately, it was the Roadrunners who prevailed, winning 7-2 with six runs in the eighth. The loss drops Texas State to 19-17 on the season.
Tanner Hill had a strong showing, going 3-for-4 in the game as the only Bobcat with multiple hits. There were also a few impressive defensive plays scattered throughout the game.
Matt Smith made a great double play after catching a line drive, and on the other side of the infield
Garrett Mattlage also made a nice catch on a liner.
Ben McElroy had a diving grab in right field and
Colby Targun made a catch on the run at the warning track right before hitting the wall.
The Bobcats needed more defense though in the eighth inning when UTSA racked up six runs, only two of which were earned, on four hits, a walk and an error. A leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt pushed the leadoff man to second base. A walk and a fielder's choice on a ball up the middle loaded the bases.
Roadrunner top hitter R.J. Perucki knocked a single to shallow left field to score two runs and put UTSA up, 3-2. After that, an error let one more runner cross home plate. Tony Ramirez plated another run on a double to right center and scored next on Jesse Baker's two-run homer over the left field fence. With that, the game was out of reach.
The Roadrunners jumped on the board first, using two doubles to score a run in the bottom of the first inning. The Bobcats answered with a run of their own in the top of the second.
Tyler Pearson reached base on a fielder's choice and made his way around the bases thanks to consecutive singles from Hill and
Trey Hicks.
Starter
Dylan Bein took a seat after giving up just three hits in 3.1 innings.
Cory Geisler, who started and finished as the designated hitter, took over on the mound and went another 3.1 innings. He only gave up two hits without a run.
Ross Goebel entered to finish the top of the eighth and forced a fly out, the catch Targun made at the wall.
In the bottom of the eighth, Texas State scored again. Smith led off with a bunt single and Targun followed with a base hit. With two runners on and no outs Mattlage showed bunt, pulled back and flared the ball to shallow centerfield to score Smith and take a 2-1 lead.
A double play and a strikeout ended the rest of the opportunity for Texas State in the eighth. Then it was UTSA's turn in the bottom of the inning, and the Roadrunners came up big for the win.
Texas State will host Georgia State in a Sun Belt Conference series over Easter Weekend with games at 6:30 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Saturday's game will be televised across the southeast on the Sun Belt Network, on Cox Sports Television and locally on KBVO in Austin. Fans in other parts of the country can see the game on ESPN3.
