SAN MARCOS, Texas – Friday saw Texas State fall in both games of the doubleheader to Georgia Southern at J.I. Clement Stadium. The Eagles claimed the first contest 13-3 in seven innings and then held on for an 8-7 win in the second game.
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With the results, the Bobcats are now 24-26 on the season and 12-14 in the Sun Belt Conference while Georgia Southern improved to 27-24 overall and 13-13 in league play.
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Game 1
Both Travis Bragg and Ryne Farber hit solo home runs and Caden Baker scored on a sacrifice fly to account for all of TXST's runs. Rashawn Galloway added a double in his first game back in nearly six weeks. Also recording an extra-base hit was Alan Shibley, who hit a triple in the seventh.
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Alex Valentin (5-5) struck out four in three innings but allowed seven runs on four hits and three walks to take the loss. Kade Grundy (7-5) tossed six innings and gave up three runs on six hits to pick up the win.
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Out of the bullpen, Shane Connell threw 1.2 innings and Josh Glaser worked 1.1 innings. Glaser did not allow a run in his outing and recorded a strikeout.
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The Eagles scored in the first five frames with two four-run innings and one with three runs.
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Game 2
Georgia Southern continued its hot hitting with three runs in the first inning of the second game of the day.
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In the next half inning, Ian Collier drew a four-pitch walk to start things off. Singles by Dawson Park and Bragg loaded the bases. Samson Pugh sent a 1-2 offering to center field for a two RBI single. Shibley tied the game when he grounded out to the second baseman that allowed Bragg to score.
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Pugh would come through again with the bases loaded in the third with an RBI single to center to give the Bobcats a 4-3 lead. I would be short lived as Sean White hit a solo homer in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.
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The hosts would score three times in the fifth to go back in front. The first run came on a wild pitch and two more would come in on a Texas State throwing error. Another solo long ball, this time off the bat of Cade Parker, extended the Eagles' advantage to 8-4 in the seventh.
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With one gone in the eighth, Bragg was hit by a pitch and Pugh worked a free pass. Shibley hit a towering shot to right field that cleared the Blue Monster for a three-run home run to cut the deficit to a run.
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Picking up the win on the mound was Jacob Phillps (6-2), who threw 5.1 innings of relief with nine strikeouts while surrendering three runs on four hits. Joey White retired the final five batters to pick up his first save of the season. Jesus Tovar (3-6) gave up seven runs on eight this and three walks with four strikeouts over 4.2 innings to take the loss.
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Matthew Tippie struck out six in 3.1 innings out of the bullpen to keep the game close for the Bobcats.
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Pugh finished the day 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and one stolen base and walk. Park had two base knocks and Bragg scored twice. Shibley ended the contest with four RBI.
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The series finale in Statesboro is scheduled for a 9 a.m. CT first pitch on Saturday.
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