SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State's
Cory Geisler pitched a gem of a game and closer
Pasquale Mazzoccoli came in to close it out with his ninth save of the season.
Granger Studdard ruined the pitcher's duel with a leadoff double in the seventh and
Dylan Paul knocked him in to spark a three-run inning. Those three runs proved to be enough for the Bobcats to pull out a 3-2 victory to salvage the series against Nevada and improve to 21-12.
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Geisler threw 7.1 innings and struck seven batters out on 112 pitches. The senior didn't give up a hit until the fourth inning and was working on a two-hit shutout after seven innings. Nevada struck in the eighth with a two-run homer, but Mazzoccoli shut the Wolf Pack down the rest of the way to clinch the win for the Bobcats.
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In addition to Studdard and Paul,
Derek Scheible laid down an excellent push bunt for a hit in the seventh while
Nick Perez and
Luke Sherley knocked hits in the inning. Paul scored on an error while Perez drove in Scheible to complete the three spot in the seventh.
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WHO STOOD OUTCory Geisler / LHP/OF / Senior / Spring, Texas
The senior struck seven batters out on a season-high 112 pitches. His seven strikeouts matched his season high from South Alabama on March 26. He was working on a two-hit shutout after seven innings and put on the performance the Bobcats needed on the mound, according to Head Coach
Ty Harrington.
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Pasquale Mazzoccoli / RHP / Senior / Katy, Texas
Mazzoccoli earned his ninth save of the season as he pitched two/thirds of the eighth inning and the ninth. With his ninth save, he improves to tied for second for most saves in a season at Texas State and just two away from Hunter Lemke's school best of 11 saves.
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Dylan Paul / IF/OF/C / Sophomore / Katy, Texas
Paul started his first game ever at first base for Texas State Sunday, registering 11 putouts and an assist, including the first putout of the game as well as an outstanding sliding catch on a foul ball later in the game. He also knocked in the go-ahead RBI to break a 0-0 tie in the seventh inning with a single up the middle.
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SCORING RECAP- Bottom 7th – Granger Studdard led off with a double to right field, and two batters later Dylan Paul drove him in with a single up the middle. After that, Derek Scheible legged out a well-placed push bunt. Both Paul and Scheible pulled off a double steal and took an extra base on an errant throw with Paul scoring. Next, Nick Perez singled to right centerfield to plate Scheible and complete the three-run inning. (3 runs, 5 hits, 2 errors, 2 left on base)
- Top 8th – Nevada hit a one-out single, and Trenton Brooks followed with a two-run homer. (2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base)
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NOTES- Sunday marked the first time this season that Jonathan Ortega did not lead off and Granger Studdard did not hit third.
- Dylan Paul made his first start at first base this season.
- Cory Geisler threw a season-high 112 pitches and matched his season and career high of seven strikeouts, originally set on March 26 against South Alabama.
- The Bobcats improved to an undefeated 5-0 on Sundays and 5-2 in series finales, while also improving to 9-6 in games in which Texas State scores 3-5 runs.
- Texas State is also now 5-1 in games in which the Bobcats were tied after six innings and 17-4 in games in which the Bobcats lead after seven innings.
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NEXT UPTexas State will host No. 25 Rice in the team's next game, a midweek at 6 p.m. Tuesday. After that, the Bobcats will welcome Sun Belt Conference opponent Little Rock to Bobcat Ballpark.
Head Coach Ty Harrington Reflects on Win, Week to Come
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