SAN MARCOS, Texas – Despite holding a six-run lead, striking two home runs and knocking 15 hits Saturday, Texas State fell to Arkansas State, 12-10, to drop to 20-28-1 overall and 12-14 in the Sun Belt Conference.
 
The Bobcats went up early, building a 10-4 lead through just three innings and received boosts with multi-run homers from both Cedric Vallieres and Granger Studdard. However, Arkansas State chipped away with a run in both the fourth and fifth innings then exploded for six runs in the seventh to take the lead and never look back.
 
For Texas State, Studdard led the team in hits, finishing 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Vallieres knocked in four RBI on two hits, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. Zach Sullivan, in his first start of the season at third base, finished 3-for-5 while both Tanner Hill and Cory Geisler each knocked two hits in the game.
 
The Bobcats scored first Saturday with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Geisler led off with a single and Vallieres brought him in with a double to the left field corner. After that, Studdard pushed Vallieres to third base with a hit up the middle. Ben McElroy brought him in with a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield to put Texas State up, 2-0.
 
Arkansas State answered with two runs in the top of the second inning to tie the game, but the Bobcats busted the game open in the bottom of the inning. They scored six runs on six hits and an error in the inning. It started with a leadoff walk from Colby Targun. After an error and a fielder's choice, Geisler followed with a base knock to plate Targun. Then, Vallieres knocked his ninth home run of the season to score three more runs for the Bobcats.
 
To the chagrin of the Red Wolves, Texas State wasn't done in the inning. After that, Studdard knocked a double, and Hill singled to shallow right centerfield. McElroy walked behind Hill to load the bases. From there, back-to-back singles from David Paiz and Targun scored a run each to put Texas State up, 8-2.
 
In the third inning, the Bobcats benefitted from another Studdard hit. This time, he knocked a two-run homer for his 10^th roundtripper of the season to put Texas State up 10-4 and firmly in control of the game. Arkansas State, however, had other plans.
 
The Red Wolves kept chipping away, scoring a run in both the fourth and fifth innings to stay within striking distance, 10-6. Then they struck. Arkansas State with a six-run seventh inning for the team's first lead of the game. The Red Wolves knocked six hits with two walks in the inning. They started with a string of three consecutive hits. After back-to-back outs, five consecutive batters got on base with two walks and three more hits. Once Arkansas State took the lead, the Red Wolves would not relinquish it.
 
Texas State and the Red Wolves meet for the series finale Sunday at 11 a.m. Texas State will also be celebrating Mother's Day, and it's also Texas State's Bark in the Park so be sure to bring the pups out to Bobcat Ballpark.