SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Bobcats and South Alabama battled back and forth throughout a great game Thursday night. Despite a herculean effort from Tanner Hill, South Alabama was able to prevail with three runs combined in the final two innings to drop Texas State, 6-4. With the loss, the Bobcats fall to second place in the Sun Belt Conference at 6-1 with a 15-7 overall record, but they'll be back at it again Friday and Saturday at 4 p.m. and 12 p.m. against the Jaguars.
 Hill put together an outstanding day, belting two home runs, scoring three times, knocking in two RBIs and finishing 3-for-5. Meanwhile, Ryan Newman went 2-for-4 while Granger Studdard, Theodore Hoffman and Cory Geisler were all 2-for-5. Jared Huber drew two walks and picked up an RBI.
 
The Bobcats knocked 14 hits to nine for South Alabama but left 12 runners stranded on the night. Three times, in the fourth, fifth and ninth innings, Texas State left three men on base to end the inning.
 
In bottom of the ninth, trailing, 6-4, the Bobcats loaded the bases with no outs. It started with a huge leadoff single from Luke Sherley. Studdard followed with a base knock just out of reach of the South Alabama third baseman, and Hoffman knocked Texas State's third consecutive hit of the inning to load the bases. However, with the bases juiced, the Bobcats popped foul, struck out and flew out to end the game.
 
This came after South Alabama broke a 4-4 tie in the ninth inning. With one out, the leadoff hitter in the lineup, Travis Swaggerty, sent a single up the middle. He moved to second on a single from Drew LaBounty. After a walk, designated hitter Carter Perkins, who finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs, knocked a 1-2 pitch to center field to plate both runners and push the Jaguars ahead, 6-4.
 
Texas State's pitching staff did strike out more batters than South Alabama with seven to the Jaguars' six. Lucas Humpal led the way with four while Quinn Atwood struck out one and Brayden Theriot struck out two.
 
The Jaguars scored first with a run in the fourth inning. On a fielder's choice and an error, the Jaguars put a man at second base. He scored on a double two batters later to put South Alabama up, 1-0. The Bobcats, however, struck back in the bottom of the inning.
 
Hill started the run with a single up the middle, the first of three consecutive hits for Texas State. Newman and Geisler loaded the bases with two more singles. After that, Huber hit what looked to be a prime double play ball, but the Jaguars returned the favor with an error of their own to allow Texas State to tie the game. The Bobcats went ahead on a Nick Perez single, plating Newman for the 2-1 lead.
 
After holding South Alabama without a run in the top of the fifth inning, Hill struck again in a big way in the bottom of the inning. The senior knocked his sixth home run of the season, a solo shot with two outs, to left field. The no-doubter put the Bobcats up 3-1. It looked like Hill may have started something as Newman and Geisler followed with back-to-back singles and Huber loaded the bases with a walk. Unfortunately, the Bobcats would leave three stranded and have to settle for the 3-1 lead after five.
 
In the top of the sixth, the Jaguars showed everyone they would keep it a game. A hit by pitch, single through the right side and a bunt single loaded the bases for South Alabama. A bases-loaded walk scored one run, and a groundout plated the next to tie the game, 3-3.
 
Then, Hill struck again. He sent out his second homer of the night in the seventh inning to break the 3-3 tie and push the Bobcats ahead, 4-3. The lead was short-lived, however, as South Alabama tied it in the top of eighth. A leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt put a Jaguar at second base. A well-executed hit-and-run by pinch hitter Eddie Paparella pushed the runner all the way home on a double to the left field corner, tying it 4-4. South Alabama would go on to finish the game with two runs in the ninth and held the Bobcats scoreless despite loading the base with no outs.
 
Texas State continues the series against South Alabama with Jeremy Hallonquist on the mound facing USA's ace Kevin Hill at 4 p.m. Friday.




Head Coach Ty Harrington Discusses the First Game of the Series




Senior Tanner Hill Talks about his Two-Homer Night and the Ninth Inning






 

T-Hill with his 2nd bomb of the night!! @TxStateBaseball takes the lead 4-3! #SEEYA ?????? — Blair Trout (@BlairEckerle) March 25, 2016

Another @TCLBaseball alumn! https://t.co/19YPpvuAa9 — Clay Cox (@CoachCox19) March 25, 2016