SAN MARCOS, Texas – Senior right-hander Connor Reich had a solid showing on the mound and Will Hollis reached base all five he came to the plate as the Texas State baseball team (10-6) was able to salvage the series with 25th-ranked UConn (7-6) on Sunday with a 5-3 win Sunday afternoon at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
Reich (2-0) went 7.1 innings with two strikeouts while giving up three runs on seven hits and one walk to pick up the win. Brayden Theriot record the final five outs on the mound to earn his first save of the season and eighth of his career, tying Stephen Smith for sixth all-time in Bobcat history. He did not allow a hit and struck out two, as well. Suffering the loss was Joe Simeone (0-1) after surrendering three runs on six hits and two walks.
 
Hollis was 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored, two walks and one RBI. Dalton Shuffield added a 2-for-4 performance with a run scored and RBI. Also driving in a run were Cole Coffey and Chase Evans.
 
The Huskies started the second with back-to-back singles that saw Pat Winkel advance to third and Christian Fedko get to second after the throw to third. Kyler Fedko then flew out to right field for a sacrifice fly and Chris Winkel recorded an infield single to put the visitors up 2-0.
 
Jaylen Hubbard led off the third with a single to right field. He would then advance to second when Simeone was called for a balk. Hollis made them pay by smashing a 0-2 offering off the right field wall for a RBI double to cut the deficit in half.
 
Skyler Valentine popped up a bunt that the pitcher made a diving attempt for but missed for a single for the senior outfielder. A 1-1 offering was sent back up the middle by Coffey that was misplayed by the shortstop that allowed a run to score and tie the game. Two pitches later, Shuffield laced a single through the left side to plate a run and put TXST in front 3-2.
 
With runners on the corners, Chase Evans ripped a single to left field to score a run and increase the Bobcats lead to two after five innings.
 
Cole Broadnasky pulled the Huskies to within one in the seventh when he homered to left center.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Hollis and Valentine were issued back-to-back free passes. After a pitching change, Riley King showed his attempt to bunt but pulled back and hit a dribbler between the charging third baseman and pitcher. The shortstop was able to field the ball and throw King out at first but both runners moved into scoring position. A wild pitch saw Hollis score for an insurance run for a 5-3 lead.
 
Despite issuing a walk with one out, Theriot recorded a strikeout and ground out to Williams to end the game.
 
Next up for the Bobcats is the second meeting this season against Rice in Houston. The game on Wednesday will start at 6:30 p.m. at Reckling Park.
 
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