SAN MARCOS, Texas – Friday at Bobcat Ballpark saw Texas State (21-30, 9-11 Sun Belt) drop both games of a doubleheader to Georgia State (14-35, 9-11 Sun Belt). The Panthers won the first game 7-4 and took the nightcap 9-4.
 
Game 1
Dalton Shuffield opened the scoring in the first with a three-run home run to left field. It was his fourth dinger of the season.
 
The Panthers cut into the lead with a run in the third. They took the lead on a three-run homer by Josh Smith in the fifth.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Jaxon Williams crushed a solo home run to left field to tie the game 4-4.
 
After a scoreless sixth for both teams, GSU's put the visitors back in front on a solo shot by Blaine Marchman to start off the seventh. The Panthers would add two insurance runs in the ninth.
 
Zachary Leigh (4-6) suffered the loss after surrendering five runs on eight hits while striking out eight in seven innings. He upped his career strikeout total to 195 and now ranks 10th in program history. Cameron Jones (1-6) picked up the win as he went six innings and allowed four runs on four hits. Chandler Dawson tossed three scoreless innings to earn his first save of the season.
 
Also seeing action on the mound for the Bobcats was Cameron Bush. The right-hander struck out five over two innings.
 
The only batters to record a hit for TXST was Shuffield and Williams as they both went 2-for-3. Shuffield also swiped two bases to give him 10 on the season.
 
Game 2
GSU struck early for four runs, all with two outs, in the first behind three doubles and a two-run home run.
 
Shuffield led off the bottom of the frame with a four-pitch walk. A 2-2 pitch to Will Hollis saw him smash it just to the left of the right field foul pole to cut the deficit in half.
 
John Wuthrich followed with a single to left field. He would then advance to second when a throw back to the pitcher from the first baseman got away from the hurler. After a free pass was drawn by Jose Gonzalez, the two baserunners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Bryce Bonner would then plate a run with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 4-3.
 
Those three runs would be the last the Bobcats scored until the seventh. In the meantime, the Panthers scored once in the sixth and added four more runs in the top of the seventh to take a six-run advantage.
 
An 0-2 offering to Hollis in the seventh was cranked over the right center field wall for the senior's eighth homer of the season. It would be the final run of the game for either team.
 
Zeke Wood (3-5) suffered the loss after giving up four runs on six hits in four innings. Ryan Watson (3-4) threw six innings out of the bullpen and allowed just a run while striking out seven to pick up the win.
 
Gonzalez, Hollis and Wuthrich all finished with two hits on the night. Also recording a base knock was Williams.
 
The series concludes on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The team will recognize its seniors prior to the game beginning at 2 p.m.
 
For all things Texas State baseball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.