SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State busted Saturday's game wide open with six runs in the second inning and kept the pressure on throughout the game thanks to 13 hits, including a near-cycle for senior
Cody Lovejoy. With the offense booming,
Jeremy Hallonquist carved up the Washington State offense, only allowing four hits in seven scoreless innings en route to a 10-1 victory for the Bobcats.
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Lovejoy finished the day with a triple, single and double, coming a home run short of the famed cycle. He was 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, but he wasn't the only Bobcat who brought the offense.
Jonathan Ortega,
Granger Studdard and
Theodore Hoffman each added two hits apiece while combining for three RBI. Three other Bobcats added a hit each. In addition to Lovejoy, Ortega and Hoffman both scored twice.
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On the mound, Hallonquist simply stymied the Cougars. Washington State kept hitting into Texas State's strong defense. Lovejoy made a running catch at the wall.
Luke Sherley showed his arm strength with a nice throw from short to get the runner in time.
Jaylen Hubbard made an impressive snag at third base to keep the ball in the infield, and the rest of the defense held strong throughout the day.
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It was the second inning that propelled the Bobcats past Washington State Saturday afternoon.
Nick Perez and Sherley knocked back-to-back singles to put men at first and second base, but both runners were in danger of being stranded after the second out of the inning. That's when Texas State came alive.
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The Bobcats knocked five consecutive hits with two outs to score six runs.
Derek Scheible picked up an RBI with a hit up the middle to plate Perez, and Sherley came in off a single to left field from Ortega. Lovejoy started the day with a big triple to score two runs, and Studdard knocked a single through the left side to bring in Lovejoy. Continuing to work the left side of the field,
Tanner Hill sent a rocket down the third base line to score Studdard before the Cougars could finally find their third out of the inning. In all, seven of Texas State's 13 hits were extra-base hits.
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In an effort to answer the Bobcats in the top of the third, Washington State grounded out twice, hit a single and flied out. The next two innings, the Cougars did not get a base runner while Texas State added three more runs. Hoffman started the third with a triple, and Perez brought him in with a sacrifice fly. In the fourth, Ortega knocked a double down the left line and came in on a Lovejoy single. Lovejoy scored on the next at-bat, a Studdard double.
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Texas State would add an unearned run in the seventh inning after Hoffman belted a double to right centerfield while Washington State crossed the plate once in the ninth. Freshman
Wes Engle kept the game under control in the final two innings though, striking out one Cougar and closing out the game.
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For the second consecutive game, Texas State only threw two pitchers while Washington State burned four heading into the third game of a four-game series. Sunday, the Bobcats will put
Jonathan Hennigan on the mound against freshman righty Parker McFadden for Washington State. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Head Coach Ty Harrington Postgame ReactionSenior Cody Lovejoy Postgame ReactionFreshmen Duo Nick Perez and Jonathan Ortega Postgame Reaction
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