SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State baseball team evened up a Sun Belt Conference series with a 6-5 triumph over Louisiana Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
The Bobcats (24-25-1, 12-14 SBC) were able to knock off the Ragin' Cajuns (29-22, 15-11 SBC) in the middle game of the weekend for the fifth year in a row.
 
Luke Sherley opened the scoring in the first inning on a unique play that involved two Louisiana errors. The senior singled on a ball that caromed off the pitcher and advanced to third on a throwing error that reached the visiting bullpen. He then was called safe at home after knocking the ball out of the catcher's glove.
 
Junior Jacob Almendarez singled in the bottom of the third and later gave the Bobcats a 2-0 lead on an RBI single from Sherley. The visitors threw up a four-spot in the fifth inning and added a fifth tally in the sixth to pull ahead 5-2, but two two-run homers from Sherley and classmate Derek Scheible in the seventh inning would power the maroon and gold into a 6-5 advantage.
 
Junior Anthony Pagano (2-0) was lights out on the mound in 4.1 innings of relief duty to earn the victory. He conceded one run on just two hits, while posting two strikeouts and no walks. Junior starter Connor Reich took a no-decision after allowing four runs on 10 hits across 4.2 frames.
 
Sherley went 3-for-3 at the dish and tied his season highs in both RBIs (3) and runs scored (2). Junior Ryan Newman tied his season best with three hits, and true freshman Dalton Shuffield finished with a pair of hits for the second-consecutive day.
 
UL starter Hogan Harris collected a no-decision after allowing two runs on six hits in 6.0 innings. He struck out three but issued a quartet of free passes. Nick Lee (1-6) was saddled with the loss after only being able to find two outs. He gave up the home runs to Sherley and Scheible and left after conceding four runs on four hits.
 
Gavin Bourgeois went 3-for-4 to lead the Ragin' Cajuns, while Kennon Fontenot and Zach LaFleur both finished 2-for-3. LaFleur scored twice, and Tyler Stover collected two RBIs.
 
Texas State will attempt to claim its second series ever from Louisiana and the first since 2004 in the finale at 1 p.m. May 13. The contest will double as Senior Day, and the six graduating Bobcats will be honored prior to first pitch.
 
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