SAN MARCOS, Texas – Senior Tucker Redden made the biggest impact of the night for the Texas State baseball team (1-0) with a three-run home run in the sixth inning that proved to be the difference in the game. The Bobcats opened the 2020 season and the Steven Trout era with a 4-3 win over Stony Brook (0-1) on a chilly Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
Picking up the win was Brent Hebert (1-0) after throwing 2.2 innings of relief with four strikeouts while Tristan Stivors earned his first career save by recording the final four outs. Suffering the loss for the Seawolves was Ben Fero (0-1) after he surrendered three runs in 2.0 innings out of the bullpen.
 
TXST struck first in the third that began with a leadoff double by Isaiah Ortega-Jones. Following a sac bunt by Dalton Shuffield, Jaxon Williams hit a grounder to the shortstop in the pulled in infield. A throw to the catcher caught Ortega-Jones in no man's land. As the junior outfielder dove back into third, the catcher's throw was off the mark and allowed Ortega-Jones to score.
 
Stony Brook answered back by netting a run on a bases loaded walk in the fifth. The visitors were denied a chance to tack on more with a line out to John Wuthrich in right field to end the frame.
 
The bottom of the sixth began with Wuthrich doubling off the centerfield wall and Wesley Faison drawing a walk. Two batters later, Redden sent a 2-2 offering over the left centerfield wall for the game-winning hit.
 
A run was added on by the Seawolves in both the seventh and eighth innings to make it a one-run contest that Stivors closed out.
 
Batters 4-9 all recorded a hit for the Bobcats led by two from Redden. TXST drew five free passes while striking out just four times.
 
Senior right-hander Zachary Leigh started on the mound and struck out six in five innings. He surrendered a run on one hit and three walks.
 
The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
 
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