MOBILE, Ala. – The Texas State baseball team (12-8, 1-2 Sun Belt) won its first Sun Belt Conference game of the season with an 8-2 victory in the rubber match at South Alabama (10-7, 2-1 Sun Belt) Sunday at Stanky Field.
 
Connor Reich (3-0) recorded his fifth quality start of the season to pick up the win. He threw 7.0 innings and match his season-high of seven strikeouts while allowing a run on four hits. Taking the loss was Jase Dalton (1-1) after surrendering two runs on one hit and walk and recording only one out.
 
Both Zachary Leigh and Brayden Theriot threw an inning of relief. Theriot had two strikeouts while giving up a run on two hits. Leigh pitched a scoreless ninth inning and struck out one.
 
Will Hollis led the Bobcats at the plate going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a double. Jaxon Williams recorded two hits and scored three runs. Also posting a multi-hit day was Skyler Valentine, who also drove in two runs and scored once.
 
After Dalton Shuffield led off the game by reaching on a fielder's choice, Williams hit into a fielder's choice. Two batters late, Hollis laid down an unexpected bunt for an infield single and extend his reached base streak to 14 games. Valentine then sent a 3-2 pitch back up the middle for an RBI single to put TXST ahead early.
 
The Jaguars were able to tie the game in the fourth when Felix Aberouette laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring home a run.
 
In the seventh, Valentine started things off by singling through the left side. Ryan Newman was able to draw a walk and both runners were moved into scoring position on a Travon Benton sacrifice bunt. Following a pitching change, Chase Evans flew out down the right field line that was deep enough to score a run. Felipe Rodriguez sent the very next offering to center field for an RBI single and increase the lead to 3-1.
 
Williams led off the eighth with a single to right field and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. A 3-1 offering fell under the glove of the diving center fielder for an RBI double to make it a three-run Bobcat advantage.
 
USA answered back with a run of its own on a Kaleb DeLaTorre single to make it a 4-2 contest.
 
Four TXST insurance runs were tacked on in the top of the ninth. Two came on a Hollis chopper single over the first baseman's outreached glove with the bases loaded. Valentine plated a run on a sacrifice fly and Cole Coffey drove home the final run of the game on a pinch hit single to center.
 
The Bobcats close out their five-game road swing on Tuesday in San Antonio against Incarnate Word. First pitch of the game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Sullivan Field.
 
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