Bobcat Baseball season concludes in Stanford Regional Final

Phillip Pongratz | TXST Athletics

STANFORD, Calif. – On the verge of advancing to the first Super Regional in program history, Texas State (47-14) saw it to come to a stunning end as Stanford (45-15) walked it off in the bottom of the ninth of a 4-3 ballgame at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond.
 
“What an unreal game. Last game of the regional and pushed to the brink. Thought we had it there going up 3-1,” said head coach Steven Trout. “You got to tip your hat. They took some great swings in big moments and that is whey they are No. 2 in the country. Could not be prouder of my guys.”
 
“How we drew it up, I didn’t expect seven [innings] from [Tristan] Stivors. I tried to take him out a couple of times but he kept fighting me to go back out there,” said Trout. “What those guys have done for our program and university, I told them it’s not tears of sadness it’s pride. I am thankful and happy for them. Before the game I told them to enjoy it and play as hard as you can. At the end of the day, make people fall in love with the Bobcats. I think they accomplished that tonight.”
 
Wesley Faison plated two runs and recorded two hits on the night. Finishing with two hits and an RBI was Cameron Gibbons while Justin Thompson record two base knocks.
 
The win went to Brandt Pancer (2-0) after he recorded the final out in the top of the ninth. Levi Wells (8-3) took the loss while recording an out.
 
Getting his first career start as a Bobcat was Tristan Stivors. The right-hander struck out a career-high nine while giving up a run on eight hits in seven innings. Zeke Wood also threw an inning and recorded two strikeouts.
 
With one out in the second, John Wuthrich doubles to left center and would then move to third on a groundout to the second baseman. Gibbons drove the senior outfielder home with a single to center to give the Bobcats an early lead.

It was short lived as Kody Huff hit a solo shot to tie the game in the bottom of the frame.
 
Over the next six innings, both teams had opportunities to score but the pitchers came through to get the needed outs and great plays that included Wuthrich throwing a Cardinal out at the plate in the fifth.

All of that would change in the ninth.
 
Both Gibbons and Isaiah Ortega-Jones drew walks to start the top of the final frame. After the next two batters were putout, Jose Gonzalez was intentionally walked to load the bases. Faison stepped up and sent the first pitch he saw back up the middle for the go-ahead two RBI single.

The bottom of the inning saw the first two Stanford batters hit solo homers to tie the game. After getting two more into scoring position, a walk-off single was recorded to end the game.
 
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