CLEBURNE, Texas – Despite giving up two runs in the ninth, Texas State (7-2) hung on to win its opening game of the College Baseball Series in Cleburne Friday night 5-4 over Abilene Christian (5-4) at La Moderna Field.
 
Kyle Froehlich (2-0) threw five innings, struck out six and gave up a run on two hits to pick up the win. Wade Cooper recorded the final two outs with one via a strikeout to earn his second save of the season. Taking the loss was Brett Lanman (0-2) after he allowed three runs on five hits and four walks in 4.2 innings.
 
Both Jackson Cotton and Chase Mora went 2-for-4 at the plate with two and one stole base, respectively. Cotton also scored twice, drove in two runs and hit a double. Rashawn Galloway had two hits on the night, both being doubles down the outfield lines, as well. Both he and Jaquae Stewart plate a run apiece.
 
Cotton began the game by sending the first pitch of the game to right field for a single. He would steal both second and third and came home on a fielding error by the third baseman on a ball hit off the bat of Galloway for the early 1-0 lead.
 
Stewart doubles the lead when he worked a free pass in the third with the bases loaded. Two batters later, a pickoff attempt at second base sailed into the outfield and that allowed Galloway to score to make it a three-run advantage.
 
The Wildcats got on the board in the fifth when Grant Watkins led off with a solo home run to right field.
 
In the next half inning, Mora singled and Brady Boles walked to start the frame. The duo would pull off a double steal to as they both moved into scoring position. Cotton would blast a pitch to left center for a ground-rule double to increase the Bobcats' advantage to 5-1.
 
ACU got a run back in the seventh when Watkins hit his second homer of the game. The Wildcats would put together a rally in the ninth as they scored two runs and had the bases loaded with two outs. Cooper was able to get Diego Cardenas to chase a high fastball for the game-ending punchout.
 
Next up for TXST is a meeting with Tarleton State on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
For all things Texas State baseball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.