SAN MARCOS – Texas State fell just short of advancing to face No. 1 UL Lafayette for a chance at the Sun Belt Conference Championship with a 4-3 loss to Arkansas State Friday night, ending the 2016 season. But that didn't stop senior Cory Geisler from putting on a show in the final game of his career.
 
He scored two runs on a 2-for-4 day highlighted by his second home run of the tournament. In addition to him, senior Tanner Hill knocked a hit while Derek Scheible sent out his second homer of the season as well. Jonathan Ortega and Granger Studdard each added hits in the game.
 
In relief, Brandon Lewis and Chase Hodson only gave up one hit in the final 6.1 innings. The duo combined for five strikeouts with four coming from Hodson, including an outstanding top of the ninth in which Hodson struck out three batters in a row.
 
Unfortunately, Arkansas State scored three runs in the third after one in the second, and the Bobcats couldn't chase the Red Wolves down.
 
Down, 4-3, Theodore Hoffman, in a pinch hitting role no less, almost tied the game with a solo home run. He sent one to deep left centerfield that would have been out on any other day at Bobcat Ballpark, but on this day, with the wind blowing in, it fell just short.
 
 
WHO STOOD OUT
Cory Geisler / OF/LHP / Senior / Spring, Texas
The senior kept his strong tournament rolling with two hits, two runs and a homer in Friday's nightcap. He finishes the tournament with five hits, five runs and four RBIs in just two games hitting. He retired 16 consecutive batters from the mound with five strikeouts in the only tournament game he pitched.
 
Chase Hodson / RHP / Senior / Richmond, Texas
Hodson has been outstanding in relief all season and that did not change Friday night. In 2.2 innings of work, he struck out four. He struck out the side with two looking strikeouts in the top of the ninth to give the Bobcats a chance to tie it. He finishes the season as one of three Bobcats with more strikeouts than innings pitched – 52 strikeouts to 37.2 innings pitched.
 
 
SCORING RECAP

• Bottom 1^st – Cory Geisler knocked a single through the left side. Then he went to second on a wild pitch and third on a balk. Granger Studdard sent a big double to the left field corner to bring in Geisler and put the Bobcats up 1-0. (1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base)
• Top 2^nd – Arkansas State hit a leadoff home run in the inning.
• Top 3^rd – A single and a triple scored one for the Red Wolves. An error brought in another ASU run. The third hit of the inning scored one more for Arkansas State. (3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 left on base)
• Bottom 3^rd – Geisler sent out his second home run of the weekend, a leadoff solo shot to make it 4-2. (1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on base)
• Bottom 6^th – Derek Scheible knocked a two-out, solo homer to left field to pull the Bobcats within one, 4-3. (1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on base)

 
 
NOTES

• Cory Geisler knocked his second home run of the weekend and the season with his leadoff solo shot in the third inning. It was his second hit of the day so now he has 10 multi-hit games this season.
• Derek Scheible hit his second home run of the season and fourth of his career. It is his first homer since March 5 against Incarnate Word.
• Luke Sherley and Jonathan Ortega teamed up for a pretty double play in the top of the seventh. It's the 38^th double play for Sherley and 32^nd for Ortega this season.

Highlights - No. 5 Texas State vs. No. 8 Arkansas State





 

@TxStateBaseball hell of a season boys! Big things coming from the Cats in the future! #EatEmUp — Scott Grist (@ScottGrist36) May 28, 2016	@TxStateBaseball Thanks for all the hard work seniors! Good luck in the future. — Tom Madden (@madden_g) May 28, 2016
@TxStateBaseball It was a great ride this season! Glad I was able to catch a few games and one on the road. Nothing but love for these men???? — ?Andrew? (@alcordero24) May 28, 2016	Solid season by @TxStateBaseball made a good run at the tourney, left it all on that field. Played hard for the seniors. #BrightFutureAhead — Drew Lomeli-Padilla (@AJLomeli) May 28, 2016
@TxStateBaseball congrats on a great season. We enjoyed cheering and verbally massaging your opponents. Great year to build on. ???? — Texas State Lacrosse (@TxStateLacrosse) May 28, 2016	Junior Granger Studdard gave @TxStateBaseball the early lead in tonight's elimination game on @ESPN3#FunBelthttps://t.co/mtw1K8bA58 — #FunBelt (@SunBelt) May 28, 2016
We have a one-run game on @ESPN3 after this Derek Scheible home run for @TxStateBaseball! ?? https://t.co/rAsIbmzK2W pic.twitter.com/aoy5in9XPz — #FunBelt (@SunBelt) May 28, 2016	Theodore Hoffman of @TxStateBaseball came thiiiiiiiiisss close to tying tonight's game in the 9th#FunBelthttps://t.co/SMSw7A5eIV — #FunBelt (@SunBelt) May 28, 2016