SAN MARCOS, Texas – A solo homer by
Daylan Pena in the seventh proved to be the difference Thursday night at Bobcat Ballpark as Texas State (34-20, 16-12 Sun Belt) claimed a 6-5 win over ULM (16-36, 5-22 Sun Belt) in the series opener.
"At this point in time you don't dissect it too much. You just find a way to get a win, and we needed it really, really bad," said head coach
Steven Trout. "Really proud of the guys and how
Levi Wells threw tonight as he gave us eight innings. We also barreled the ball up all night long and I'm proud of our approach and how we left the game with a victory."
Levi Wells (8-3) struck out five over eight innings while giving up five runs on seven hits for the win.
Jack Stroud set the Warhawks down in order in the ninth to earn his ninth save of the season. Carson Orton (4-5) took the loss as he gave up the go-ahead run while throwing the final three frames.
At the plate, Pena went 3-for-4 with two RBI and his 10th home run of the year.
Chase Mora finished 2-for-4 at the dish with three RBI, all of which came on a round tripper. The trio of
Ryan Leary,
Davis Powell and
Kameron Weil all posted 2-for-3 days at the plate with both Powell and Weil each scoring twice.
ULM jumped out to an early lead as Riley Davis hit a two-run homer in the first inning.
The score stayed the same until the third. Weil started the inning with a single and Powell was issued a free pass. After the next two TXST batters were retired, Mora sent the first pitch he saw over the left field wall to put the Bobcats ahead 3-2. It was his 17th long ball of the season to move him into a tie for fourth on the program's season list.
A solo shot from Zack Floyd in the next half inning tied the score.
Weil began the fifth with a bunt single and would advance to third on a base knock by Powell to put runners on the corners.
Jose Gonzalez hit a fly ball to left field that saw the shortstop make the catch that saw Weil tag while the throw to the plate was off line and allowed Powell to move up to second. Pena sent the first pitch to him to left field for an RBI single to make it a 5-3 advantage for Texas State.
The Warhawks again knotted the score in the next half inning behind an error and balk.
With one out in the seventh, Pena sent a 1-1 offering over fence in right to put the Bobcats in the lead again.
ULM got a leadoff single in the eighth from Davis that would also see him steal second. TXST got out of the frame unscathed as Cardell Thibodeaux lined out to Manning at first base and the junior quickly threw to Powell to double-up Davis for an inning-ending double play.
Game two of the series is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch from Bobcat Ballpark.
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