FORT WORTH, Texas – Despite falling behind early, Texas State (3-1) battled back to get within a run twice against fifth-ranked TCU (4-0) Tuesday night at Lupton Stadium. It would be the Horned Frogs that came away with the victory, 6-5.
 
"That was a good battle against No. 5 TCU on the road. I think tonight showed this is a talented team and we can play with anybody," said head coach Steven Trout. "But it comes down to small execution when you play really good team. You got to find a way to make plays or get a bunt down and we just got to fine tune those things. I'm proud of how the Bobcats competed all night long and am excited for what's to come moving forward."
 
Ryne Farber continued hit hot streak at the plate as he reached all five times he came to the plate was finished 4-for-4 with a RBI, one run and a double. Alec Patino finished 3-for-5 and both Rashawn Galloway and Aaron Lugo had two hits apiece.
 
Also driving in a run each were Davis Powell, Cameron Thompson and Lugo.
 
Taking the loss was Tony Robie (0-1) after he surrendered three runs on six hits in 1.1 innings. Louis Rodriguez (1-0) picked up the win with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief and Ben Abeldt held the Bobcats scoreless over the final 1.1 frames to earn his second save of the season.
 
Jonathan Martin threw two scoreless frames with two strikeouts and Rhett McCaffety also punched out two in 1.2 innings of work. Otto Wofford tossed 1.1 innings of relief and surrendered an unearned run while Taylor Seay recorded two outs including picking off a runner at first.
 
The Horned Frogs scored first with two runs their first time at the plate on an RBI single and sacrifice fly. Another run would score in the second and two more in the third to put the hosts up 5-0.
 
Back-to-back singles by Chase Mora and Galloway put runners on the corners with one gone in the fourth. Thompson then hit a grounder to the second baseman, who got Mora at second but the Purdue transfer beat out for a fielder's choice and plated a run.
 
Ian Collier smacked a double to left and on the very next pitch saw Farber double to left center to cut the deficit to three in the fifth. A 3-2 pitch to Powell was sent back up the middle for an RBI single that also forced a TCU pitching change. With runners on the corners and two outs, Mora hit a fly ball to center that hit off the heel of the outfielder's glove and allowed Powell to score that cut the host's lead to 5-4.
 
The score would remain the same until the bottom of the seventh. An apparent inning ending double play was denied as Powell's flip to Mora at second was low and got by the sophomore to put runners on the corners. A ground out after a pitching change brought home the sixth run of the game for TCU.
 
With two gone in the top of the eighth, Lugo sent an 0-2 pitch to centerfield. The Frog outfield made a diving attempt on the ball but missed, which allowed the ball to roll all the way to the fence. The junior third baseman came all the way around to record an inside the park home run and make it a 6-5 contest.
 
Lugo inside the park homer was the first by a Bobcat since Tyler Sibley did so against Houston on Mar. 13, 2011 at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
After TCU was retired in the bottom of the eighth, Farber was plunked to leadoff the final frame. A double play gave the hosts two quick outs. Patino would come up and lace a single to left center to put the tying run back on base. On the first pitch to Galloway, the sophomore smacked it to right field but it was caught on the warning track to end the game.
 
Next up for TXST is a trip up I-35 to compete in the Karbach Round Rock Classic beginning on Friday against Kansas at 6 p.m.
 
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