MOBILE, Ala. – The Texas State baseball team lost 8-3 to South Alabama Friday night in the first game of a weekend Sun Belt Conference series at Stanky Field.
 
The Bobcats (22-21, 9-10 SBC) dropped their sixth-straight contest, while the Jaguars improved to 26-17 overall and 13-6 in the league.
 
TXST initially pushed ahead 2-0 after four frames, but USA threw up a seven-spot in the bottom of the fifth to take control for good. The home team added an insurance tally in the seventh, and the Bobcats completed the scoring in the top of the ninth.
 
Sophomore Felipe Rodriguez hit the second home run of his career and the second in as many weeks in the third frame. Texas State was outhit 9-5. Juniors Luke Sherley and Jaylen Hubbard scored the other two runs.
 
Sophomore Connor Reich (2-4) took the bump first and was saddled with the loss after allowing seven runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings. He struck out four and walked six. Senior Brandon Courville, sophomore Anthony Pagano and true freshman Broc Bosse combined to pitch the remaining 3.2 frames. They combined to allow one unearned run on just one hit.
 
Randy Bell (4-3) tossed his first complete game of the season to collect the win. He struck out eight and did not issue any free passes, while conceding three runs on just five hits.
 
Colton Thomas finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and one run, while Drew LaBounty added two hits, two RBIs and a run. Jared Barnes scored twice and Travis Swaggerty and Paul Russo both registered two RBIs.
 
The two teams will continue the series at 6:30 p.m. April 29. The finale is slated to begin at noon April 30.

-TxStateBobcats.com-