ATLANTA – Saturday saw a complete 180 offensively for both teams as they combined for just six hits on the afternoon. Texas State (18-8, 5-3 Sun Belt) would come away with a series clinching 1-0 victory over Georgia State (13-15, 2-6 Sun Belt) thanks to Jackson Cotton's solo home run in the eighth inning.
 
"Offensively, it was a different ballpark today and you have to give credit to their pitchers. They were really good but we found a way to get it done with Jackson's home run. Championship teams have to be able to win in different ways," said head coach Steven Trout.
 
The homer for Cotton was his team leading ninth of the year. It also marked the fourth consecutive game in which he has hit a long ball. The streak is tied for the longest in program history that was set by Luke Cannon in 2009 and matched earlier this year by Dawson Park.
 
Cotton finished the afternoon going 2-for-4. The only other Bobcat to record a base hit was Rashawn Galloway, who extended his hitting streak to 19 games. Both Manny Salas and Park reached base twice via walks.
 
Picking up the win on the mound was Wade Cooper (3-0). The freshman threw three hitless and shutout innings with one strikeout. Michael Caruso (3-3) allowed a run on two hits with four strikeouts to take the loss.
 
Recording one of the best starts of his TXST career was Sam Hall. The right-hander struck out a career-high 10 Panthers while throwing six shutout frames and gave up just three hits.
 
"Sam was amazing today. He had all pitches working and felt like the Sam Hall of old again," said Trout. "Wade Cooper was huge with three innings of no-hit ball, as well."
 
GSU would threaten in the first with a successful double steal. However, Hall struck out Austin Killingsworth looking to strand both runners.
 
The hosts would again have an opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the fourth when Nick Garagozzo walked to leadoff the frame. He would advance to third on a sac bunt and a failed pickoff attempt. Hall responded again by recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
 
In the sixth, Texas State recorded its first hit of the contest when Cotton laced a 1-2 offering through the right side for a single. Any chance of building off the base knock was stifled on an inning-ending double play.
 
Garagozzo tripled with one out in the bottom of the frame. An attempted squeeze play failed when Hall fielded the bunt by John Beverley and flipped the ball to Austin Munguia to tag out Garagozzo at the plate.
 
The lone run of the game came when Cotton smashed a 0-1 offering over the right field wall with one out in the eighth.
 
GSU would get a little help in the ninth to keep its chances of tying the game alive. A grounder was hit to Park with two outs but Farris wasn't able to pick his throw and the ball bounced into the netting that allowed Lucas Grantham to advance to second. A wild pitch moved pinch runner Jackson Ginther to within 90 feet of home.
 
Another grounder to Park saw his throw go slightly off target but Farris was able to snag the ball and tag Cooper Milford on his backside for the final out of the game.
 
Sunday's series finale is set for a 10:30 a.m. CT first pitch.
 
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