MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Trailing by three runs and down to its last out, Texas State (36-22) rallied to defeat Louisiana (36-22) just after midnight on Friday by a 4-3 score. Senior
Rashawn Galloway had the game-winning single to send the Bobcats to the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championship presented by Troy University.
Earning the win was
Jesus Tovar (9-2) as he struck out he lone batter he faced. The lefty's nine victories are the most by a TXST hurler since 2012. Sawyer Pruitt (6-4) recorded two outs but surrendered two runs on one hit and two walks to take the loss.
Ryan Markwardt started and struck out eight in 4.2 innings while giving up a run on three free passes and two hits. Tossing four frames with three punch outs was
Cade Smith.
At the plate, Galloway went 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Clayton Namken had a 2-for-4 night with a double and scored once. Also recording a hit and scoring a run was
Jackson Cotton and
Jaquae Stewart. Adding a base knock was
Chase Mora.
The Ragin' Cajuns opened the scoring in the third with a run on a successful safety squeeze. They would get their second run of the game in the eighth on a solo home run from Lee Amedee. An insurance run was added in the top of the ninth with an assist on an error to put them up 3-0.
Stewart led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to right field. Namken followed by sending a 3-2 offering to left center for a double to put two runners in scoring position. Two batters later,
Justin Vossos was walked to load the bases.
Pruitt would record a strikeout for the second out of the frame. Being called on to pinch hit, Cotton smacked the first pitch to him that knocked down the second baseman as he fielded the ball. He tossed the ball from his backside to the shortstop covering second but Vossos slid in safely to allow Stewart to score and extend the inning.
Beheler worked a 3-2 count and took a close pitch that was called ball to bring in the second run of the frame. A pitching change was made with Galloway coming to the plate. The senior would smack the first pitch he saw past the diving shortstop for the walk-off two-run single.
The Bobcats will face either Coastal Carolina or Louisiana on Saturday in the semifinals at 9 a.m.
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