Bobcats Use Three-Run Eighth To Open Weekend With Triumph Over GS

TXST pulled one back in the bottom of the fourth on true freshman Dalton Shuffield’s second home run of the season, but the visitors went ahead 3-1 with an unearned tally in the top of the eighth.

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State baseball team came from behind to top Georgia Southern 4-3 in the first game of a weekend Sunbelt Conference series Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark.

The Bobcats (22-19-1, 10-9 SBC) struggled through the first seven innings to solve the Eagles’ starting pitcher, but a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth from junior Jonathan Ortega lifted TXST to victory.

The triumph jumped the maroon and gold into a three-way tie for second place in the SBC West division with Louisiana and UTA. Little Rock remains on top of the division with an 11-7 mark.

Georgia Southern (20-21, 10-8 SBC) initially led 2-0 after the first two innings as the Bobcats struggled out of the gate. TXST pulled one back in the bottom of the fourth on true freshman Dalton Shuffield’s second home run of the season, but the visitors went ahead 3-1 with an unearned tally in the top of the eighth.

Senior Derek Scheible jumpstarted the rally with a five-pitch walk to begin the home half of the frame.

Classmate Jared Huber singled through the right side, and the duo advanced to second and third, respectively, on a sacrifice bunt from senior Mickey Scott.

Shuffield reached on a fielder’s choice that saw Scheible tagged out at home, but Ortega then stepped to the plate and blasted a 0-1 pitch over the left-field wall for the go-ahead runs.

GS was sat down in order in the top of the ninth to cap off the come-from-behind victory.

Shuffield went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Ortega needed just one hit to finish with three RBIs.

Junior Connor Reich tossed a quality start that included 7.0 innings on the hill and a no-decision. He gave up five hits and two runs (one earned), while striking out four and walking two.

Classmate Kyle Bradford (2-1) pitched the eighth and earned the win despite allowing an unearned marker. Junior Brayden Theriot went 1-2-3 in the ninth with a pair of strikeouts to collect his sixth save of the campaign.

GS starter Brian Eichhorn (3-3) was nearly lights out for the first seven innings. He tossed a complete-game and was saddled with the loss after conceding four runs on six hits. He struck out nine and walked three.

Tyler Martin had three of Georgia Southern’s six hits. Jason Swan, Chandler Corley and Mitchell Golden all finished with an RBI and a run scored.

The two sides will continue their weekend battle at 4 p.m. April 28.

Score by Innings                    R  H  E

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Georgia Southern…. 110 000 010 –  3  6  0

Texas State……… 000 100 03X –  4  6  2

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Win – Bradford, K. (2-1). Loss – Eichhorn, B. (3-3). Save – Theriot, B. (6).