SAN MARCOS, Texas – Senior Alan Shibley had a career day at the plate in helping Texas State claim a 12-2 run-rule victory in seven innings on Friday afternoon over ULM at Bobcat Ballpark.
With the win, the Bobcats improved to 22-24 on the season and 10-12 in the Sun Belt Conference while the Warhawks fell to 21-25 overall and 7-15 in league play.
Shibley finished 3-for-4 at the plate as he fell a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. He drove in a career-high four runs and scored a run.
Also going 3-for-4 was Austin Munguia, who finished with an RBI and scored once. Ian Collier reached base all four times he came to the plate with a single, two walks, was plunked once, scored twice and drove in two runs.
Samson Pugh also finished with two RBI while Coy DeFury came around to score twice. Chase Mora went 2-for-4 with three runs and two doubles.
On the mound, Alex Valentin (5-4) struck out three in five innings while giving up two runs on five hits to pick up the win. Zach Shaw (3-1) allowed seven runs on seven hits in 1.1 innings to take the loss.
Dylan Kerbow tossed the final two innings without giving up a run and induced to double plays.
TXST put up two runs in the first with the first run crossing the plate on a Dawson Park sacrifice fly. Collier singled back up the middle to plate the second run.
Eight runs were put up by the Bobcats in the second. Shibley started the scoring with a two-run, 400-foot home run to right field. He would later record another RBI on a double his second time at the dish in the inning.
Samson Pugh would plate two on a single back up the middle with the bases loaded. DeFury drove in a run on a single and Collier was plunked with the bases juiced for an RBI. The final run of the frame came on a wild pitch that saw Travis Bragg cross the plate.
Mora started the third by reaching on a wild pitch after a swinging third strike. The catcher's throw to first was high and allowed the junior to advance to second. Two ground outs later and the Tomball, Texas native cross the plate to increase the lead to 11-0.
Solo homers by Isaiah Walker and Bryce Blaser in the fifth put ULM on the scoreboard.
In the sixth, Collier was walked and Pugh got plunked to put two on with one out. Shibley sent a 1-0 pitch through the right side of the infield to drive in a run to increase the lead back to 10.
Kerbow induced a double play and then a groundout to Ryne Farber to wrap up the series opener.
Game two of the series is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. start time on Saturday.
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