SAN MARCOS, Texas – A pitchers' duel took place Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark as neither Texas State nor App State were able to get onto the scoreboard until the seventh inning. The Bobcats would go on to claim the Sun Belt Conference opener 3-2.
With the victory, TXST is on a three-game winning streak, improved to 10-8 on the season and 1-0 in the conference while the Mountaineers drop to 11-5 overall and 0-1 in league action.
Austin Eaton (2-1) had his best start as a Bobcat with the junior posting a quality start. He went seven innings and struck out five while surrendering a run on two hits and walks. Earning his first save of the year was Matthew Tippie.
Bridging the gap between Eaton and Tippie was Jonathan Martinez. The senior right-hander worked a perfect eighth with two strikeouts.
Taking the loss was Cody Little (1-2) after he gave up three runs on two hits and two free passes. Bradley Wilson started on the mound and went six scoreless innings with six punch outs and gave up just one hit.
Recording a hit on the night was Cade Manning, Daylan Pena and August Ramirez, who drove in two runs. Pena matched his career-high after being walked three times.
As a team, the Bobcats stole five bases. It was the most since the team swiped six bags against Ohio State on Feb. 27, 2022. Recording one steal apiece was Aaron Lugo, Chase Mora, Kameron Weil, Manning and Pena.
Texas State had the best chance to score early when the team was able to load the bases with one out in the second. However, Wilson would strikeout the next two batters to escape the jam.
It would be App State that got on the scoreboard first. The visitors were got two on with two gone and Drew Holderbach then sent a 0-2 pitch back up the middle for an RBI single.
Pena led off the bottom of the frame by working a walk. Ramirez sent a hanging slider the other way for a two-run home run to put the Bobcats in front 2-1.
Back-to-back walks to Alec Patino and Mora started off the eighth. After Lugo hit a deep fly out to center that allowed Patino to advance to third, the senior first baseman scored on a wild pitch for a big insurance run.
The first two Mountaineers were retired on three total pitches in the ninth. Banks Tolley hit a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall to cut TXST's advantage to a run. A walk and single put the go-ahead run on base, but Tippie was able to induce a groundout to Lugo to end the game.
Game two of the series is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. start on Saturday.
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