SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State baseball team (4-2) struck first but Oral Roberts (6-2) was able to overcome the early deficit to claim the series finale 8-4 at Bobcat Ballpark on Sunday.
 
"I thought it was a very competitive weekend. They [Oral Roberts] are a really good bunch and a regional team. You want to get tested early to see where the team is at," said head coach Steven Trout. "Like I told the guys, this is a new team with new roles. There is a lot that goes into it. We've played six games and are 4-2. We are completely fine and need to learn to get better."
 
Jose Gonzalez led the Bobcats at the plate as he went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Ryder Hernandez hit a home run for the second straight game and Daylan Pena plated a run on a double. Scoring twice was Ben McClain.
 
Suffering the loss was Nathan Medrano despite striking out seven in 4.2 innings but gave up three runs on five hits. Cameron Bush tossed two scoreless frames of relief with two strikeouts.
 
McClain led off the bottom of the first with a four-pitch walk and then stole second. Two batters later, Gonzalez smacked a 1-1 offering to right field for an RBI single to put TXST early.

Gonzalez with a hard-hit RBI single put us on the scoreboard!#EatEmUp #SlamMarcos x @JGonzalez0815 pic.twitter.com/XRaoS5IpSO

— Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) February 26, 2023

 
The lead was short lived as Holden Breeze hit a solo homer with one gone in the next half inning. The Golden Eagles tacked on two more runs in the third off a sacrifice fly and a misplayed grounder.
 
Hernandez pulled Texas State to within a run when he started off the fourth with a solo homer to left on a 3-2 pitch. The Bobcats had a chance to tie or retake the lead later in the frame as Ryan Leary was hit by a pitch and Peyton Benesh laced a single to right center to put two on with one out. However, ORU was able to get out of the jam with a short flyout to center and ground out.

OUT OF HERE!!! Hernandez with no doubter!#EatEmUp #SlamMarcos x @ryderh4 pic.twitter.com/BISFOhDWdK

— Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) February 26, 2023

 
The score would remain the same until the Golden Eagles put up five runs in the seventh.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Pena doubled off the centerfield wall to bring home Rashawn Galloway. The ninth inning saw TXST bring home one more run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Gonzalez for the final run of the contest.
 
A busy week awaits the Bobcats as they will play five games over six days beginning on Tuesday at Incarnate Word for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.
 
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