LAFAYETTE, La. – The Texas State baseball team lost 5-1 to Troy in the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Championship Wednesday night at Russo Park.
 
The Bobcats, seeded No. 6 in the tournament, fell to 28-27-1 on the year and moves to the loser's bracket. The No. 3-seeded Trojans improved to 39-18 this season and will compete in the winner's bracket.
 
TXST will face the loser of the final game of the day between No. 2 Louisiana and No. 7 Little Rock in an elimination game at 12:30 p.m. May 24. The Trojans will face the UL/LR victor at 7:30 p.m. in the winner's bracket.
 
The maroon and gold took a lead in the top of the second on an infield RBI single from senior Jared Huber. That would be the only damage to the scoreboard from the Bobcats on the night.
 
Troy tied the game on a double from Drew Federic in the fifth and took the lead for good on a solo home run from Cole Prestegard in the seventh. The Trojans were able to add three insurance tallies in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Juniors Ryan Newman and Jaylen Hubbard led the way for the Bobcats with two hits each. Hubbard scored the lone run.
 
Sophomore Nicholas Fraze was nearly flawless on the mound, as he conceded just one run on five hits in 6.0 innings of work. He took the no-decision after striking out six and issuing zero walks. Junior Brayden Theriot (1-4) suffered the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in 1.2 frames. Fellow juniors Braden Pearson and Kyle Bradford also saw time on the mound.
 
Matt Sanders and Joey Denison both went 2-for-4 with a run scored each to lead Troy. Sadler Goodwin had two RBIs. Starting pitcher Levi Thomas lasted 5.2 innings and allowed one run on six hits. He entered the game having allowed a run in just one of his 13 appearances during the regular season. He also struck out seven and walked one. CJ Carter (8-4) earned the win after tossing 3.1 hitless and scoreless innings. He struck out four and walked two.
 
-- TXSTATEBOBCATS.COM --