SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State baseball team defeated South Alabama 5-2 in a Sunday afternoon matinee at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
The Bobcats (21-18-1, 9-9 SBC) avoided the weekend sweep, while also snapping an eight-game losing streak to the Jaguars (24-14, 12-5 SBC) in the process.
 
Both teams scratched across lone tallies in the second inning, and TXST drew three RBI walks in the home half of the fourth to take control of the game. USA pulled one back in the sixth, but a home run from junior Ryan Newman in the bottom of the seventh would provide enough insurance to close out the triumph.
 
Newman drove in two runs, and seniors Derek Scheible and Jared Huber each had a pair of hits. Scheible scored twice.
 
Junior Wes Engle pitched just 1.1 innings and left after allowing a run on three hits. He walked three and struck out one in the no-decision effort. Junior Braden Pearson (2-2) relieved Engle in the bottom of the second with the bases loaded and induced a crucial double play to end the threat. He collected the win after giving up no runs or hits in 2.2 innings. Four other Bobcats saw time on the mound, with junior Brayden Theriot tossing a clean ninth for his fifth save of the year.
 
South Alabama was held to just four hits, which were scattered throughout the lineup. Hunter Stokes failed to record a hit, but he did walk three times and scored both runs for the Jaguars.
 
Noah Michael (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in the first 3.2 innings. He did not register a strikeout and walked five. JoJo Booker tossed the remaining 4.1 frames and gave up one run on four hits, while striking out six and walking one.
 
The Bobcats will continue their eight-game homestand when they play host to Baylor at 6 p.m. April 24 at Bobcat Ballpark.

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