HOUSTON – Junior infielder Jaxon Williams drove in four runs to help the Texas State baseball team defeat Houston 9-4 to start off the second day of the 19th Annual Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park.
 
The Bobcats improve their record to 7-3 on the season while the Cougars drop to 4-5.
 
Hunter McMahon (2-1) struck out five in six innings, while allowing three runs on six hits and three walks. Earning his first career save was Zachary Leigh as he tossed the final three frames, giving up a run on two hits and striking out five. Taking the loss was Ryan Randel (1-1) after giving up four runs on six hits and being chased after 3.1 innings.
 
All nine starters finished with a base hit led by Williams' 3-for-5 day at the plate. Along with his RBI total, the Rosenberg, Texas native also scored twice and hit his first home run in a TXST uniform. Dalton Shuffield recorded a 4-for-5 at the dish with three singles and a triple. The sophomore also scored twice and plated a run.
 
Also finishing with two hits were Jaylen Hubbard and Skyler Valentine. Hubbard finished with a run scored and RBI while Valentine came around to score twice. Plating a run apiece were Will Hollis, Ryan Newman and Felipe Rodriguez.
 
UH struck first in the second inning when Blake Way hit his first homer of the season into the Crawford Boxes in left field.
 
In the next half inning, Shuffield tripled to right center field. He scored two pitches later when Williams grounded out to short. After Hubbard drew a walk, Hollis drove the ball to right field where the outfielder made a diving attempt but the ball landed under his glove and rolled to the wall. This allowed Hollis to hustle around for a RBI triple to tie the game.
 
Valentine led off the fourth by reaching on a throwing error by the third baseman and advanced to second when the ball sailed into stands. After a Newman ground out to move Valentine 90 feet from home and Jacob Almendarez walked, Rodriguez sent a 2-0 offering through the left side for a RBI single.
 
Following a double-steal attempt that saw Rodriguez get thrown out at second, Shuffield beat out an infield single fielded by the Cougar third baseman to bring home Almendarez. The sophomore infielder then stole second to move into scoring position.
 
Williams sent a 3-2 offering back up the middle for a single that plated a run. Hubbard then sent a blast to center field that fell beyond the reach of the UH outfielder. The senior slide into for a triple as TXST took a 6-2 lead.
 
UH was able to load the bases with one out in the fifth following two walks and a Rey Fuentes III single. Jared Triolo hit a soft dribbler that was fielded by Shuffield but the Cougar beat the throw for a RBI single. McMahon got Joe Davis to strikeout swinging and induced Leal Lockhart Jr. to fly out to right field to escape the jam without any more damage.
 
Almendarez started off the eighth by beating out a bunt that was fielded by the first baseman. He moved into scoring position when Rodriguez laid down a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Williams smashed a 2-1 offering off the Haliburton sign above the Crawford Boxes in left field for his first homer of the season and increase the lead to 8-3.
 
Texas State's final run of the game came in the top of the ninth. Valentine doubled off the left field as he just missed hitting it above the yellow line for a home run. A 3-1 pitch to Newman was ripped towards the Cougar first baseman but got by him for a single that brought home Valentine.
 
Houston was able to get a run back in their half of the ninth when Fuentes sent the first pitch he saw over the yellow line in left center for a home run. Leigh wrapped the contest up by getting Brett Esau with a swinging strikeout.
 
The Bobcats conclude the Shriners College Classic against 12th-ranked Baylor. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
 
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