SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State fell 5-2 Saturday morning to South Alabama at Bobcat Ballpark as the Jaguars evened the series.
With the result, the Bobcats are now 20-20 overall and 7-10 in the Sun Belt Conference while USA improved to 22-17 on the year and are 7-10 in league play as well.
Mitchell Heer (2-1) threw three scoreless innings with two strikeouts to earn the win and Gant Starling tossed two shutout frames to pick up his second save of the year. Taking the loss was Peyton Zabel (2-3) after he gave up a run and walked three while recording just one out starting on the mound.
Sam Hall had three punch outs in three innings of relief. Also working multiple innings out of the bullpen was Jack Stroud, who went two innings and did not allow a run with two strikeouts. Both Dalton Buckingham and Matthew Tippie worked one scoreless frame apiece.
Recording a hit on the day was Ryne Farber, Aaron Lugo, Chase Mora and Davis Powell, who drove in both of the Bobcats' runs. Kameron Weil reached base twice as he drew two free passes.
South Alabama struck first its first time to the plate. Both Will Turner and Brennan Holt were walked and moved up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch allowed Turner to score.
The Jaguars added to their lead with a run in the fourth that was scored on a safety squeeze bunt. Three more were tacked on in the next frame as Tyler Borges hit a three-run homer.
In the bottom of the fifth, Cade Manning led off by working a free pass after falling behind 0-2. Mora followed with a single through the left side and both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. A 1-2 offering to Powell was laced to left center that brought both runners home and cut the deficit to 5-2.
The best chance for Texas State to get closer and possibly take the lead came in the eighth. Farber reached base on a fielder's choice and Weil got walked. Two batters later, Lugo was plunked on a 1-0 pitch to load the bases. However, Starling would get a strikeout to escape the jam and keep the Bobcats off the scoreboard.
Sunday's series finale is scheduled for an 11:30 a.m. first pitch.
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