MOBILE, Ala. – Sophomore right-hander Hunter McMahon pitched his best game of the season Saturday night but the Texas State baseball team (11-8, 0-2 Sun Belt) fell 1-0 in the second game of the series at South Alabama (10-6, 2-0 Sun Belt) played at Stanky Field.
 
McMahon (2-2) threw all eight innings to record the first complete game by a Bobcat pitcher since Jeremy Hallonquist did so on May 15, 2016 at Arkansas State. The Kansas City, Missouri native struck out a season-high six while giving up a run on four hits and two walks. JoJo Booker (2-2) earned the win after throwing six scoreless innings with four hits, four strikeouts and three walks. Picking up his second save of the series and fourth of the season was Nick Greene, who struck out four in 2.2 scoreless frames.
 
TXST recorded eight hits coming from eight batters. Will Hollis was walked once to extend his reached base streak to 13 games. Both Travon Benton and Dalton Shuffield stole a base on a successful double steal.
 
The lone run of the game was scored in the third that began with Nick Lewis getting hit by a pitch. He would advance to third on a sacrifice bunt and a pass ball. Lewis would score when Bennett Shell laid down a sac bunt down the first baseline.
 
In the top of the fifth, Benton drew a walk and two pitches later saw Felipe Rodriguez single through the right side to put runners on the corners with one out.
 
Jaxon Williams hit a grounder to the third baseman, who then went to second to start a double play attempt. Brandon Auerbach caught the ball at second and on his turn to first stepped into the path of Rodriguez sliding directly into the base. Auerbach's throw was high and cause Wells Davis to have to leap to catch the ball, Williams to be safe and allow Benton to score to tie the game. However, the second base umpire called runners interference on Rodriguez and cause an ending-inning double play.
 
The next best chance for the Bobcat to score came in the seventh. Benton and Shuffield hit back-to-back singles and then pulled off a double steal. USA escaped when Greene induced a fly out down the right field line that saw the outfielder make the catch on the run.
 
Texas State threatened in the ninth with Cole Coffey and Ryan Newman hitting singles to start the frame. Greene again got out of the jam thanks to a popped up bunt attempt and two strikeouts to end the contest.
 
The Bobcats conclude the series against the Jaguars tomorrow at 1 p.m.
 
For all things Texas State baseball, be sure to follow the team on Instagram and Twitter.