TROY, Ala. – Texas State got off to a hot start with four runs the first time at the plate. However, Troy would score 10 straight runs to take the series opener 10-8 Friday night at Riddle-Pace Field.
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"That was a hard-fought game and proud of the way we battled back. We didn't deserve to win the game but love the way our guys competed," said head coach
Steven Trout. "The sun will come up tomorrow and have to play cleaner baseball to beat a really good team on the road."
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With the result, the Bobcats are now 24-14 overall and 9-7 in the Sun Belt Conference while the Trojans improved to 27-12 and are also 9-7 in league play.
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Ben McClain went 3-for-5 at the plate with a double. For the fifth consecutive game,
Davis Powell recorded two base knocks while scoring twice. Also finishing with two hits on the evening was
August Ramirez as he drove in three runs.
Chase Mora plated two runs and
Jose Gonzalez scored twice as well.
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Levi Wells (6-2) struck out six but took the loss after giving up six runs on nine hits and four walks. Brady Fuller (4-3) picked up the win after going five innings and giving up four runs on seven hits. Ben Thompson earned his second save of the season as he recorded the final out of the game.
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A great start to the contest saw the Bobcats bat around in the first and score four runs. In the frame, the first four batters hit a single with the base knocks from Gonzalez and Mora bringing home a run apiece. A fielding error by the third baseman and sacrifice fly off the bat of
Cade Manning rounding out the scoring.
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The Trojans were able to load the bases with two outs in the second. Wells ended the threat by getting a swinging strikeout to end the inning.
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Back-to-back doubles to open the third put the Troy on the scoreboard. It would then add another run in the second. A five-run fifth gave the hosts the lead and they would expand on it with a 2-run frame in the seventh to go up 9-4. Troy capped off its scoring with a run on a wild pitch in the eighth.
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The Bobcats made a late charge in the ninth. With one out,
Davis Powell beat out an infield single to his counterpart and was awarded second as the ball went into the visiting dugout. The junior shortstop advanced to third on a wild pitch and after Gonzalez was issued a free pass, Mora hit a deep fly to right that allowed Powell to tag and score.
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Ramirez went the opposite way with for a 2-run home run on a 2-1 offering to cut the deficit to three. Another throwing error by the Trojan shortstop put
Daylan Pena on base. He would score on a double to right off the bat of
Peyton Lewis to make it 10-8.
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Game two of the series is scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch on Saturday.
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