SAN MARCOS, Texas – A ninth inning two-run home run by UT Arlington (31-22, 17-10 Sun Belt) was too much for the Texas State baseball team (34-18, 18-10 Sun Belt) to overcome Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark in a 5-3 setback.
 
The loss kept the Bobcats from being able to clinch the Sun Belt Conference regular season title and pulled the Mavericks within a half a game in the standings. TXST still needs one win in the final two games of the series to claim the conference crown and No. 1 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament.
 
Picking up the win on the mound was UTA's closer Andrew Gross (2-2) after he recorded the final four outs while striking out three. Dontae Woodard (2-1) took the loss as he also worked 1.1 innings but surrendered the go ahead homer.
 
Nicholas Fraze recorded his eighth quality start of the season. The junior right-hander went seven innings and struck out four while giving up three runs on six hits and walking only one. Brent Hebert also saw action out of the bullpen, getting two outs before being relieved by Woodard.
 
At the plate, Skyler Valentine went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and a home run. Also posting a multi-hit game for Texas State was Felipe Rodriguez and John Wuthrich with two hits apiece.
 
The Mavs got on the board first with two runs their first time at the plate. The first was on a delayed double steal of home while the second of the frame was on the third consecutive single to begin the game.
 
Valentine doubled with an out in the second and was followed by Travon Benton drawing a walk. On the second pitch of his at-bat, Wesley Faison laced a single to left single to put the Bobcats on the board and cut the deficit in half.
 
TXST tied the game up in the third when Valentine singled to left center that brought home Jaxon Williams.
 
A 3-1 offering in the next half inning was hit off the batter's eye in center field to put the visitor's back in front 3-2.
 
Neither team would get on the scoreboard again until the eighth. Valentine led off by smacking a 1-1 pitch over the left center field wall for his sixth home run of the season. It was also his first bomb since Mar. 29 at Appalachian State when he hit two that day.
 
A single by Rodriguez followed by back-to-back free passes to Dalton Shuffield and Williams loaded the bases with two outs in the frame. Gross fell behind 3-0 but was able to battle back and record a strikeout to keep the game tied.
 
With a runner on first and one out, Zac Cook was able to turn on a fastball and it cleared the wall down the right field line for the go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth.
 
The Bobcats did put two on in the bottom of the frame but were unable to come through with a key hit.
 
Friday sees the TXST conclude the series with a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. The team will honor its seniors with a ceremony prior to the first pitch of the first game.
 
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