HOUSTON – An instant classic at the Astros Foundation College Classic took place between Texas State and No. 15 Texas at Minute Maid Park Saturday afternoon. The Bobcats would come out on top behind Aaron Lugo's two-run home run in the top of the ninth for an 11-10 victory.
 
"I couldn't be prouder of the resiliency of this team. Down to our last out and we find a way to get it done," said head coach Steven Trout. "A lot of big plays tonight but we kept winning pitches. This is a tough group and couldn't be happier for them."
 
TXST improved to 7-3 on the season while the Longhorns are also 7-3.
 
Ryne Farber went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs and hit his first career homer. Chase Mora had another big day at the plate with two hits, one of them being a grand slam, and drove in five runs. Both Davis Powell and Lugo had two base knocks apiece and scored twice while Daylan Pena also had two hits and came around to score one time.
 
Earning the win on the mound was Matthew Tippie (1-0) after he struck out three over the final two innings. David Shaw (0-1) took the loss as he gave up two runs on two hits with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
 
Jack Stroud started and punched out two in 2.1 innings. Working two frames on the rubbers was Calen Graham as he struck out three. Keller Eberly saw two of the four outs he recorded be via punch outs.
 
Farber started the game with a bang as he sent a 1-1 pitch over the right field wall for his first career home run.
 
In the bottom of the inning, the Longhorns hit a grounder to Lugo with two outs. He went to touch the bag but slipped. After initially being ruled safe, the call was overturned as the junior third baseman was able to tag the runner before his hand touched the bag.
 
Back-to-back singles from Lugo and Pena began the second. A failed pickoff attempt put runners on the corners and Pena would score on a wild pitch. Consecutive walks to Alec Patino and Farber loaded the bases for Mora, who crushed a 1-0 offering to left center for a grand slam and make it 6-0 in favor of Texas State.
 
UT got on the board in the third behind two sacrifice flies and a throwing error to cut the Bobcats' advantage in half.
 
Texas State responded in the fourth that began with Powell singling through the left side and Chris Bernal getting plunked while attempting to bunt. Farber sent a 1-0 pitch back through the middle for an RBI single.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Longhorns got solo home runs from Jalin Flores and Max Belyeu to cut the advantage to two runs.
 
The next half inning saw Patino single back up the middle with two outs. The Sioux City, Iowa native would follow by stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Mora sent a 3-2 pitch to center for an RBI single to extend the lead to 8-5.
 
Four runs were scored by UT in the seventh with the big hit being a three-un homer from pinch hitter Jack O'Dowd to put the Longhorns in front.
 
Powell led off the eighth with a single up the middle and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Bernal. Farber laced a single to left field to tie the game at 9-9. The Bobcats had a chance to retake the lead after Patino reached base on a fielding error by the UT second baseman. However, Farber was called out attempting to steal third after a review by the umpires.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Porter Brown hit a solo home run to right field to put the Longhorns back in front.
 
The Bobcats were down to their last out when Pena sent a 2-1 pitch back up the middle for a single. He was pulled for pinch runner Kameron Weil. The senior outfielder's speed wouldn't be needed as Lugo sent the first pitch he saw, while blowing a bubble, into the Crawford Boxes for the go-ahead two-run round tripper.
 
Tippie set the Longhorns down in order with two strikeouts to end the game.
 
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