STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Texans fell just short in the midweek meeting with the Bobcats.
Tarleton State (10-8, 1-2 WAC) went head-to-head with Texas State (8-8, 0-0 SUN BELT) but fell just short at the plate to see a 2-1 final Tuesday evening.
Jake Burcham started on the bump for the Purple and White, pitching for 2.0 innings, giving up no runs, two hits, no walks and two strikeouts.
Reese Bassinger (L,0-1) pitched for 2.0 innings, giving up one run, one hit, and one walk.
Cameron Bush was the starting pitcher for the Bobcats with 3.0 innings on the mound, giving up no runs and three hits. The closer for Texas State, Matthew Tippie (W, 2-0), gave up no runs, no hits, no walks and five strikeouts in 3.0 innings.
The Texans compiled one run on 10 hits and left 10 runners stranded. The Bobcats tallied two runs on nine hits, a pair of doubles, two double plays and left 12 runners on base.
The first five innings were scoreless, with a combined 13 runners left on through the fifth, five from Tarleton State, eight from Texas State.
In the top of the sixth, a single to the left field and a batter hit in the box saw the first two runners on. A sacrifice bunt pushed both runners into scoring position but a fielder's choice held the Bobcats off the board with an out at home plate. The next visitor in the box singled up the middle to put Texas State on the board first.
The bottom of the sixth saw the Purple and White find their way to the board as well.
Cole Miears was the leadoff hitter for the inning and took a hit at the plate to put the first runner on.
Cris Enriquez singled to left center to add another Texan to the bags.
Trace Morrison singled on a bunt to add a run for the home team as Miears crossed home plate. With two runners still on for Tarleton State,
Kooper Shook also singled on a bunt to load the bases, but three consecutive outs closed the door on the Texans' momentum, tying the game at 1-1.
The seventh inning went scoreless. The top of the eighth began with the leadoff runner securing a spot at first after an error from the home team. A sacrifice bunt saw the first runner advance to second and the next batter took a hit at the plate to see a pair of runners on. A fly out to center field saw the runners advance and a single brought in the final run of the game. In the same play, a second runner sent home marked the third out to keep the scoring to a minimum.
The ninth inning saw three consecutive outs from each team to seal the deal on the evening with a 2-1 final in favor of the visiting team.
Texan Baseball will be back on the road for the second conference weekend series as Tarleton State faces Grand Canyon. Game 1 will begin Friday at 8 p.m. CT. On Saturday, the second game of the series will begin at 8 p.m. CT and the series finale will take place on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.
