LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Texas State baseball team lost 6-5 to Little Rock Sunday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.
 
The Bobcats dropped to 20-13 overall and 7-5 in the Sun Belt Conference, while the Trojans (12-20, 5-7 SBC) are now 4-0 in series all-time against TXST.
 
Texas State initially led 2-1 after an RBI walk was drawn by junior Mickey Scott in the top of the third. Junior Theodore Hoffman cranked his team-best 11th home run of the season in the top of the fifth and the Bobcats added two more in the seventh to secure a 5-1 advantage.
 
The home team would not be undone, however, as Zach Baker hit his second homer of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Jonathan Davis then recorded a two-RBI single in the eighth to tie the game at 5-5, and Ty Gunter singled home the game-winning run later in the frame.
 
Texas State scored in the first inning of all three games this weekend and has now scored in the opening frame in four consecutive outings. The Bobcats have now scored first in seven of their last nine losses.
 
Hoffman went 4-for-4 and now stands one off the conference lead in round-trippers this season. Junior Luke Sherley was 1-for-3 and tied his career high with three runs scored. Sophomore Ryan Newman was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and one run.
 
True freshman Nicholas Fraze tossed the fourth quality start in his last five outings and took a hard-luck no decision. He conceded just three runs on six hits in 6.1 frames, while striking out a career-high four and walking just two. Junior Blake Walden (5-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing the game-winning run on three hits in just 1.0 inning. Sophomore Brayden Theriot recorded the final two outs and struck out one.

Texas State turned a season-high three double plays and recorded a season-best six stolen bases.
 
Baker was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs for the Trojans. Davis finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run.
 
Chandler Fidel earned a backdoor no-decision after allowing three runs on five hits in 6.0 innings. He struck out six and walked three. Preston Oberling gave up two runs on just one hit in 0.1 inning of work, and Dylan Slayton (3-1) picked up the win after giving up no runs on four this across the final 2.2 frames. He struck out three and walked two.
 
Texas State outhit Little Rock 10-8 and both teams committed one error.
 
The Bobcats will now renew their rivalry with Texas, with the upcoming version set to be played at 6:30 p.m. April 9 at Disch-Falk Field. TXST defeated UT 11-10 in 10 innings on March 21 for the first home victory ever over the Longhorns.
 
The two squads will also meet in Austin a week later on April 18.
 
-TxStateBobcats.com-