SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State seniors
Jose Gonzalez,
Peyton Lewis and
Ben McClain combined to drive in 10 runs in the Bobcats' 17-0 seven-inning run-rule victory over ULM on Senior Day at Bobcat Ballpark. The win clinched a top six seed for the upcoming Guardian Credit Union Sun Belt Conference Baseball Championship presented by Troy University.
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With the victory, TXST improved to 35-21 on the season and 17-13 in the conference while the Warhawks ended their season at 17-37 and 6-23 in the Sun Belt.
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"It was a day we really needed on all sides of the baseball. Whenever you shutout anybody, that's a really good job of throwing it and did so with multiple guys and did a good job defensively," said head coach
Steven Trout. "Offensively with the wind blowing in, those guys got locked in to being in the middle of the field and on the backside while hitting it low and hard. That is something we need to take into next week."
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Finishing with two hits apiece was
Ryan Leary,
Chase Mora,
Davis Powell, Gonzalez and Powell. Gonzalez drove in five runs while both McClain and Powell finished with three RBI apiece. Totaling two RBI was Lewis and
Alex Gonzales, who scored three times despite only one official at bat.
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Austin Smith (2-2) picked up the win as he threw a perfect fifth inning. Taking the loss was Hunter Hollis (1-4) after he gave up six runs on six hits in two innings.
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Getting the start on the mound for Texas State was
Zeke Wood. The senior right-hander struck out one and gave up a hit and four walks in 3.1 innings. Both
Dalton Buckingham and
Reece Gould tossed an inning out of the bullpen and struck out one.
Peyton Zabel recorded the final two outs of the fourth and also posted a punch out.
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The Bobcats got the bats going in the second. With one gone, McClain went the other way for an RBI single. After Leary singled back up the middle to load the bases, Powell sent a 1-1 offering through the right side to plate two more runs. Gonzalez capped off the six-run frame with a three-run home run. It was his 13th round tripper of the season and 33rd in his TXST career.
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In the third, Texas State tacked on seven more runs. Two apiece came on base knocks from Gonzalez and Lewis. Also driving in a run was Gonzales, Leary and Powell.
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A bases loaded single through the left side from Gonzalez and wild pitch increased the advantage to 15 in the fifth. McClain capped off the scoring for the game in the frame when he laced a 3-2 pitch back up the middle off the pitcher for a two RBI single.
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Next up for the Bobcats the Sun Belt Tournament in Montgomery, Alabama that will be played at Riverwalk Stadium. They will play on Wednesday at either 4 or 7:30 p.m. with the bracket to be released later tonight.
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