SAN MARCOS, Texas – The 30th-ranked Texas State baseball team (1-1) opened the 2021 season with a 5-4 win before dropping the second game of Saturday's doubleheader 9-4 to BYU (1-1) at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
The Bobcats extended their winning streak to eight games with the game one victory. The streak is tied for the fifth longest in program history.
 
GAME 1 – TEXAS STATE 5, BYU 4
In the first, Dalton Shuffield doubled off the right field wall. John Wuthrich followed by beating out a slow chopper to the third baseman. The third baseman's throw was off the mark, which allowed Shuffield to score the first run of the game.
 
The Bobcats added two more runs in the second. The first was on a Tucker Redden ground out to first with the bases loaded. Two batters later, Shuffield hit a deep fly to center that brought home the second run to increase the lead to 3-0.
 
In the top half of the fourth, Cole Gambill hit a two-run home run to put the Cougars on the board and cut the lead down to a run.
 
TXST responded in the bottom half of the frame. Ben McClain led off by doubling down the left field line. Justin Thompson would then lace a 1-2 offering through the right side to plate a run to increase the advantage to 4-2.
 
Abraham Valdez tied the game with a two RBI double down the left field line in the top of the sixth with two outs.
 
With one gone in the bottom of the seventh, Shuffield hit a deep fly to left center. The centerfielder was under the ball but it bounced off his glove for a three-base error. Wuthrich hit a hard ground back up the middle that saw the shortstop dive and get a piece of the ball, which bounced to the oncoming second baseman. He then threw to first for the out but allowed Shuffield to score to put Texas State back in front 5-4.
 
Tristan Stivors came on for a six-out save to clinch the Bobcats victory.
 
Austin Smith (1-0) earned the win as he recorded the final out of the seventh. Stivors save was his first of the season and fifth in his career. Taking the loss was Easton Walker (0-1).
 
Zachary Leigh started the game on the rubber and struck out 10 in four innings. It is the second straight game that he has reached double-digit strikeouts. Cameron Bush went 2.2 innings of relief with a strikeout.
 
Both McClain and Shuffield scored two runs apiece. Wuthrich was successful in steal a base, the first of his collegiate career.
 
GAME 2 – BYU 9, TEXAS STATE 4
BYU opened the scoring in the second when Gambill blasted a three-run homer off the batter's eye in centerfield. Hayden Leatham added a sacrifice fly to put the visitors ahead 4-0.
 
The Bobcats responded in the bottom of the inning by seeing the first three batters to reach to load the bases. After battling, Justin Thompson doubled down the right field line to clear the bases and cut the deficit to 4-3.
 
Wuthrich hit a shot to left center that saw the center fielder miss on a diving catch attempt. This allowed the junior outfield to record his fifth career triple. Williams would drive him home when he singled through the right side to tie the game.
 
The Cougars retook the lead on a Jacob Wilk's double in the fifth and added another run in the sixth.
 
In the seventh, TXST was able to load the bases following two walks and a throwing error by the pitcher on a drag bunt attempt. However, BYU escaped the jam with a strikeout to end the frame. That would be the Bobcats last great opportunity of the game as the Cougars tacked on three insurance runs in the ninth.
 
Bryce Robison (1-0) picked up the win after throwing four scoreless innings of relief while Reid McLaughlin earned his first save of the season. Suffering the loss was Trevis Sundgren (0-1), who surrendered five runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings.
 
Reece Gould threw three innings of relief with four strikeouts. Also striking out a batter coming out of the bullpen was Cody Farmer and Matthew Nicholas.
 
Both Will Hollis and Williams led the Bobcats with two hits apiece.
 
The two teams are back in action on Monday for the third game of the four-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
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