STILLWATER, Okla. – The Texas State baseball team fell 6-3 to No. 22 Oklahoma State Sunday afternoon in the series finale at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
 
The Bobcats dropped to 3-5 on the season, while the Cowboys claimed the three-game set and improved to 4-3 overall. The weekend series marked the first meeting between the two programs since 1998.
 
Sunday's matinee began strong for the visitors as TXST led 3-2 after the opening two frames. Oklahoma State tied the contest in the third, however, and then scored twice in the fifth and once in the sixth to complete the scoring.
 
The Bobcats outhit the Cowboys for the second-straight game, this time by a narrow 7-6 margin. The maroon and gold also played clean in the field, not committing an error for the first time in 2017.
 
Junior Derek Scheible continued his torrid start to the season, as he finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. The other six hits were scattered between six different Bobcats. Junior Zacri Sanders registered his first home run as a member of the team. Junior Travon Benton also scored on an RBI from fellow junior Jared Huber.
 
True freshman Nicholas Fraze (0-1) took the ball first and was saddled with the loss after tossing the first 4.0 frames. He conceded five runs on four hits. Fellow true freshman Shane Daughety gave up one run on one hit in an inning of work, and sophomore Connor Reich logged the final 3.0 frames and did not concede a run.
 
Carson Teel started for the Cowboys, but he was pulled after giving up three runs on five hits through the opening 3.0 innings. Jake Cowan (1-0) pitched 4.0 relief frames and earned the win. He struck out six and did not allow a hit. Jonathan Heasley picked up the save after not conceding a run in the ninth.
 
Most of the damage at the plate for the home club was done at the top of the order. Leadoff hitter Garrett McCain finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Garrett Benge was also 2-for-4 with three RBI. Ryan Sluder posted a 1-for-2 line and scored three times.
 
All eight games for Texas State this season have come against opponents that are members of one of the Power 5 Conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC). The rest of the Sun Belt Conference has combined to play just 12 such games against teams from the top leagues.
 
TXST will continue to run the gamut of tough matchups in the early part of the campaign. Despite not playing a Power 5 school in their next outing, the Bobcats will still face a nationally-ranked foe in No. 18 Sam Houston State. Texas State and the Bearkats will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at Bobcat Ballpark, which will be the first in a string of 13-consecutive home games for the maroon and gold.
 
-TxStateBobcats.com-