STILLWATER, Okla. – The Texas State baseball team fell 10-7 in the opening contest of a weekend series against No. 22 Oklahoma State Friday evening at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
 
The Bobcats (2-4) are on the road for the first time this season, while the Cowboys (3-2) ­are hosting their first contests of 2017.
 
OSU jumped on top with a single tally in the second and then posted seven in the third. The maroon and gold responded with one run in the fourth, four in the fifth and two in the eighth to get within one at 8-7, but the home side kept TXST at bay with a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Sophomore Jacob Almendarez entered the contest with six collegiate hits and nearly matched that mark with a career high 4-for-4 effort. He also scored once and added an RBI. Juniors Derek Scheible and Dylan Paul both went 2-for-5 and combined for four runs batted in and three runs scored, while fellow junior Travon Benton scored twice.
 
Senior Brandon Courville threw 5.0 innings of relief and recorded six strikeouts to just four walks. He also allowed just two runs on three hits. Sophomore Anthony Pagano (0-1) made his first start of the season and conceded eight runs (four earned) on six hits in 2.2 innings of work. Sophomore Brayden Theriot was called upon to record the last out.
 
Tyler Buffet (1-1) picked up the win after allowing five runs on six hits in the first 5.0 frames. He struck out six and walked just one. Cole Hearrean threw 2.2 relief innings and allowed a pair of unearned runs on just one hit. Blake Battenfield collected his second save of the year after not giving up a run in the final 1.1 innings.
 
Garrett Benge led the Cowboys with a 3-for-5 effort, which included one RBI and one run. Jon Littell was 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored, while Travis Wacker used his one hit to drive in three runs. Dustin Williams scored twice and Garrett McCain drove in two runs.
 
Both teams had 10 hits and two errors. They will continue the series at 3 p.m. Feb. 25.
 
-TxStateBobcats.com-