LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A four-run seventh inning was the difference Saturday evening as the Texas State baseball team (33-17, 17-9 Sun Belt) fell to Little Rock (24-25, 15-10 Sun Belt) 9-5 at Gary Hogan Field.
 
Dalton Shuffield sent the first pitch of the game to left field for a single. After advancing to second on a ground out, the sophomore came around to score when Will Hollis singled to right field to give the Bobcats an early lead.
 
The Trojans were able to score a run in the second on a Ramon Padilla single. They were able to load the bases in the frame but Shuffield made a snag on a hard-hit ball to end the inning and keep the game tied 1-1.
 
LR would go on to score in the next two innings as well with two coming in the third and one in the fourth to take a three-run lead.
 
In the top of the fifth, Riley King recorded his first career hits in a TXST uniform on an infield single to the shortstop. Shuffield followed with a bunt single and Travon Benton was walked to load the bases. On the first pitch he saw, Hollis smashed it to right field for a double that plated two runs.
 
A passed ball allowed Benton to score to tie the game and move Hollis to within 90-feet of the plate. John Wuthrich then laced an RBI single to left to put the Bobcats back in the lead 5-4.
 
The Trojans came back in the bottom of the frame and scored on a ground out to tie the contest again.
 
In the seventh, Chase Coker cleared the bases with a triple to center field and would score on a ground out to give LR a 9-5 advantage.
 
Suffering the loss was Brayden Theriot (1-1) as he gave up four runs on three hits in two innings while striking out two. Dillion Delgadillo (1-0) picked up the win as he tossed 2.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
 
Hunter McMahon pitched the first five innings where he allowed five runs on seven hits and struck out one. Dontae Woodard threw a scoreless eighth inning and posted a strikeout to end the frame.
 
Pacing the Bobcats at the plate was Hollis with a 3-for-5 performance, three RBIs and two doubles. Both Shuffield and Wuthrich recorded two hits apiece.
 
The three-game series concludes tomorrow at 1 p.m.
 
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