SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State baseball team earned a split in a Saturday twinbill with Purdue at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
The Boilermakers (2-1) secured the opening game of the day by a 12-8 margin before the Bobcats (1-2) scored eight runs in the final two frames to swipe the nightcap 13-11.
 
Leading the way for TXST at the plate was junior Theodore Hoffman. He went 6-for-10 on the day, while adding a pair of runs and driving in two. Junior Derek Scheible was 3-for-8 overall with four RBI, four runs and one walkoff homer. Sophomore Jonathan Ortega finished 4-for-9 with one RBI and five runs scored.
 
Texas State and Purdue will attempt to finish the series at noon Feb. 19. The forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms, so be sure to follow @TxStateBaseball for updates on start times.
 
PURDUE 12, TEXAS STATE 8
The Boilermakers hit three home runs in the first frame and never looked back, as the visitors took a 2-0 lead in the series. In total, Purdue plated nine runs in the first three innings. The Bobcats were able to counter with a six-spot in the third, but they would not find home plate again until the bottom of the ninth. The maroon and gold tacked on two in the final frame, but the Boilermakers had added enough insurance to hold on for the 12-8 triumph.
 
Hoffman led TXST with a 3-for-5 effort, while scoring twice. Ortega, juniors Zacri Sanders and Dylan Paul, and sophomore Ryan Newman all registered two hits. Sanders, Paul and Newman all drove in two runs, while Paul also scored twice.
 
Sophomore Brandon Lewis (0-1) started the game on the mound and allowed five runs on four hits in 1.1 innings. Senior Brandon Courville tossed 3.2 innings of relief and conceded four runs (three earned) on three hits. Fellow senior Joe Powell threw the final 4.0 frames and allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits.
 
Dalton Parker (1-0) earned the win for the visitors after throwing 5.0 scoreless relief innings. He conceded one hit, walked two and struck out two. Gareth Stroh started and allowed six runs on six hits in the first two innings. Cameron Williams threw the final 2.0 frames and gave up two runs on four hits.
 
Mike Madej, Logan Poisall, Skyler Hunter and Evan Warden all had two hits to pace Purdue's offense. Madej drove in three runs, while Poisall, Warden and Harry Shipley all scored twice.
 
TEXAS STATE 13, PURDUE 11
The first victory of the season for Texas State started on a high note, as the maroon and gold secured an early 3-0 advantage through the opening two frames. Purdue then outscored TXST 10-2 over the course of the next three innings to swing into a 10-5 advantage. The home team erupted for eight runs in the final two frames to earn the come-from-behind triumph.
 
The Bobcats came up to bat in the final frame facing an 11-9 deficit, but Sanders was hit by a pitch and junior Travon Benton hit a full-count single to put two aboard. After a popup for the first out of the inning, junior Mickey Scott drew a pinch-hit walk to load the bases. Ortega then reached on a fielder's choice, and a throwing error on the play tied the game at 11-11. That brought Scheible to the plate with two outs, and he blasted the 0-1 pitch over the left-field wall.
 
His fifth-career home run helped cap a 3-for-4 outing, which included four RBI and three runs scored. Ortega went 2-for-5 and scored a career-high four runs. Sanders scored twice and Benton recorded a pair of hits. Hoffman finished 3-for-5 for the second-straight game and also drove in two runs.
 
Junior Blake Walden (1-0) threw the final inning and earned the victory for the home side. He gave up one unearned run on one hit. True freshman Nicholas Fraze started and gave up six runs on six hits across the first 3.1 frames. Junior Braden Pearson tossed the first 1.1 innings of relief, and he conceded four runs (two earned) on three hits. True freshman Shane Daughety bridged the 3.1-inning gap between Pearson and Walden, and he did not concede a run or a hit. He struck out five and walked just two in his first collegiate appearance.
 
Tanner Schumacher started for Purdue and left after 4.0 innings. He conceded five runs (four earned) on eight hits. Ross Learnard only allowed a pair of hits in the next two frames, and Kyle Schweiger then conceded three runs on no hits in his lone inning of work. Jacson McGowan (0-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up five runs on three hits in the final 1.2 frames.
 
Bryce Bonner finished 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored. Hunter and Shipley also added two hits.
 
The Bobcats outhit the Boilermakers 13-11.

It's not too late to get season tickets to watch every home game. For tickets, click here, call the ticket office at 512.245.2272, email tickets@txstate.edu or visit the Mark & Linda Smith Athletic Ticket Office on the northeast side of Bobcat Stadium.
 
-TxStateBobcats.com-