Box Score

SAN MARCOS – Texas State benefitted from a complete-game shutout from Austen Williams, the first of his career, and strong defensive play to beat South Alabama, 2-0, Saturday. With the win, Texas State improves to 18-12 on the season and 7-4 in Sun Belt Conference action.

 

South Alabama Series Summary
Game 1	TXST-4, USA-5	Summary	Box Score

Williams only allowed six base runners on the day, finishing with seven strikeouts to just four hits and one walk. The conference leader in strikeouts only faced three batters in seven of nine innings. He did not allow a base runner in five of the nine innings and proved he still had some juice left over with an impressive three-pitch strikeout for the final out of the game. Of his eight strikeouts, four were looking.
 
Texas State's defense turned two double plays in the game, including an impressive one to empty the bases in the eighth to allow Williams to end the inning with a strikeout.
 
The Bobcats put up five hits behind him with Colby Targun, Garrett Mattlage, Austin O'Neal, Ben McElroy and Preston Dorsey all tallied a hit for the Bobcats.
 
After 2.5 innings, both teams had only put up one hit each. In fact, Williams did not face more than three batters in an inning until the fourth.
 
Dorsey got the Bobcats started in the bottom of the third. He legged out a hit on a bunt and stole second. After Dorsey advanced to third on a groundout, Targun knocked him in with a hit straight up the middle that went between the pitcher's legs.
 
In the fifth inning, leadoff man Matt Smith earned his second walk of the game then stole second base. He went to third on a groundout, and then Mattlage plated him with a hit through the right side to put the Bobcats up 2-0.
 
That would prove to be all Texas State needed to even the series, 1-1. The series finale is at 1 p.m. Sunday and the Bobcats will put Lucas Humpal on the mound. After that, Texas State will play a midweek game at Houston.