MONROE, La. – Junior Daylan Pena drove in four runs on the night in Texas State's 7-5 setback to ULM on Friday night at Lou St. Amant Field.
 
The Bobcats are now 17-18 on the season and 5-8 in the Sun Belt Conference while the Warhawks improved to 16-17 overall and 4-9 in league play.
 
Credited with the loss was Peyton Zabel (2-2) after he allowed three runs on two hits and a walk while recording just one out. Brandon Brewer (2-0) went 2.2 innings in relief to claim the win and Caron Orton earned his first save of the season as he recorded the final four outs while both recorded three strikeouts apiece.
 
Austin Eaton had a career night on the rubber with nine strikeouts over the first five innings. It was the most punch outs this season by a TXST hurler. Taylor Seay worked 1.2 innings of relief and Jonathan Martinez had two strikeouts in one frame out of the bullpen.
 
Pena was the lone Bobcat with multiple hits on the night as he went 2-for-4 with a home run. Also with a base knock was Ian Collier, Aaron Lugo, Alec Patino and Kameron Weil.
 
The Warhawks jumped out to an early lead when Easton Winfield led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to right center.
 
Lugo started the next half inning by tripling to left center. He would trot the finale 90 feet to home plate on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Rashawn Galloway to deep right field to tie the game.
 
In the third, Alex Gonzales reached base on a fielder's choice and Weil followed with a single to right field. Both would move into scoring position on a groundout to the ULM first baseman. The first pitch to Pena saw the junior send it 383 feet over the right field wall for a three-run homer and put Texas State in front 4-1.
 
ULM would get a run back in the bottom of the frame to make it a two-run contest. In the sixth, the hosts retook the lead with a three-run sixth that was assisted by a wild pitch and TXST error. The Warhawks added another run in the seventh to extend their advantage.
 
August Ramirez was called on to pinch hit in the eighth and was hit by a pitch. After moving into scoring position on a groundout, Pena singled back up the middle to drive in his fourth run of the game and cut the deficit to 6-5.
 
In the next half inning, ULM added an insurance run on a single through the right side on the drawn-in infield.
 
Game two of the series is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch on Saturday.
 
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