SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State baseball team (9-13, 0-4 Sun Belt) fell in the series opener 6-5 to ULM (10-8, 3-1 Sun Belt) Friday at Bobcat Ballpark in part to a controversial call at the plate.
 
Zachary Leigh (0-4) took the loss as he was tagged for six runs, three of them earned, in six innings while striking out five. Cam Barlow (3-2) picked up the win as he went five innings with six strikeouts and gave up two runs on four hits. Carson Orton pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game and earn his second save of the season.
 
Tony Robie recorded three strikeouts as he tossed 2.1 scoreless innings. Tristan Stivors got the final two outs in the top of the ninth to keep it a one-run ballgame.
 
Bryce Bonner was the lone Bobcat to record multiple hits as he was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and hit his second home run of the season. Also recording a double was Cameron Gibbons, Will Hollis, Jaxon Williams and Bonner.
 
With one out and runners on the corners, Ryan Humeniuk lifted a fly ball to left field that was caught by Bonner. The graduate student unleashed a throw to the plate that one hopped to Tucker Redden to tag Trace Henry out at the plate and apparently hold the Warhawks scoreless. However, the home plate umpire called Redden for obstruction for blocking the plate despite the throw being directly to the home.
 
After a protest from head coach Steven Trout that saw him be ejected, ULM went on to score three more runs with their extra chances at the dish.
 
Hollis would hit a double down the right field line with two gone in the third. Justin Thompson followed with a single to left to cut the deficit to 4-1.
 
The Warhawks plated a run in the fifth but TXST answered back in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single from Gonzalez.
 
Again, ULM tacked on a run in the sixth but the Bobcats responded in the bottom of the frame. Bonner doubled to left center and advanced to third on a fly out to right field. Ben McClain would then lace a 1-0 pitch to right for an RBI single to make it a 6-3 contest.
 
Bonner led off the eighth with a homer to left field and Williams then doubled to left. After a pitching change, Williams moved up to third when McClain grounded out to second. Cole Coffey followed with a sacrifice fly to left to cut the deficit to 6-5.
 
Texas State would then go down in order in the ninth to end the game.
 
Game two of the series is set for a 2:30 p.m. first pitch and will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
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