SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State baseball team lost 8-7 to Arkansas State to close out a weekend Sun Belt Conference series Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
The victory clinched the weekend for the Red Wolves (14-13, 4-5 SBC), who have now won two of their first three league series this season. This was the first series loss for the Bobcats (17-11, 6-3 SBC) since they lost at Oklahoma State two games to one in February.
 
TXST initially led 1-0 after the first frame and carried a 2-1 advantage into the seventh. A-State erupted for four in the seventh and three in the eighth to pull ahead 8-2, but the Bobcats responded with one in the eighth and four in the ninth to bring the margin down to one run.
 
Sophomore Jonathan Ortega finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. He belted his fifth home run of the season in the eighth frame. Junior Luke Sherley also finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Junior Travon Benton entered the contest as a pinch hitter in the eighth and hit his second homer of the campaign in the bottom of the ninth.
 
True freshman Nicholas Fraze posted his third quality start in his last four outings. He went 6.0 frames and only allowed one run on five hits, while striking out and walking three. Sophomore Anthony Pagano (2-3) took the loss after giving up three runs on two hits in 0.1 innings, and junior Braden Pearson gave up one run on two hits in 0.2 frames. Junior Blake Walden tossed the last 2.0 innings and allowed three runs on three hits.
 
Relief pitcher Tyler Zuber (3-0) entered the game with just one run allowed in 23.2 innings this season, but he was shelled for a career-high five runs on seven hits in the final 4.0 frames. He was able to collect the win only due to A-State taking the lead while he was on the hill. Starter Tyler Mitzel was on the hook for the loss when he exited after giving up two runs on three hits in 5.0 innings.
 
Garret Rucker and Drew Tipton both finished 3-for-4 for the Red Wolves. Tipton drove in two and scored twice. Grant Hawkins scored three times, and Joe Schrimpf finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs.
 
The Bobcats will now play a rare two midweek games before heading on the road for their next weekend Sun Belt series. First up will be a tilt against Prairie View A&M at 6 p.m. April 4 at Bobcat Ballpark. The maroon and gold will then play host to UTRGV at 6:15 p.m. April 5.
 
TEXAS STATE COACH TY HARRINGTON
Opening Statement…
"It's always frustrating to lose a series. I felt coming into today that we had a good chance to win. On the positive side, I like the way our team doesn't quit. That's hard to find. (Arkansas State relief pitcher Tyler Zuber) is really good. That showed a lot about our team that we were able to go score five off of him. We put ourselves in a position where it looked like there was no way we could come back and win this game, but our team kept battling and battling. That's what I'm walking away with today."
 
On the quality start from Nicholas Fraze…
"That's his second in a row. He threw well. He was at 100 pitches and had given us six good innings. We felt like we could go to our bullpen and be OK. (Anthony) Pagano was our Friday night starter earlier this season. We had confidence in him going out there. (Braden) Pearson had not thrown since the Richmond series, but we believe in what he's going to do. I think he's going to be good."

-TxStateBobcats.com-