Maroon & Gold Weekly Wrap-Up

Maroon & Gold Weekly Wrap-Up:

Baseball, Women’s Basketball & Track & Field

 

No. 30 Bobcats Bash Five Homers to Claim Series from Panthers

SAN MARCOS, Texas – A season-high five homer runs, two off the bat of John Wuthrich, propelled the 30th-ranked Texas State baseball team to a 12-2 run-rule victory Sunday at Bobcat Ballpark to claim the series from Georgia State. It was the third time this season that the Bobcats have run-ruled an opponent on getaway day.

The win improves TXST to 33-15 overall, maintain its hold on first in the Sun Belt Conference with a 17-7 mark and clinched a spot in the Sun Belt Championship Tournament. The 17 conference victories are also the most since 2012. The Panthers drop to 14-34 on the season and 5-19 in Sun Belt action.

Connor Reich picked up the win on the mound to improve to 7-1 after striking out five while giving up two runs on eight hits in six innings. He is the first Bobcat pitcher to win seven games in a season since Lucas Humpal in 2016. Suffering the loss was Trey Horton (1-6) after he gave up four runs and only recorded two outs in the first inning.

Also seeing action on the mound for the Bobcats was Brayden Theriot. He threw two scoreless innings and matched his season-high of three strikeouts. It was the senior right-hander’s 78th career appearance on the rubber to move into sole place of third on the program’s career list.

Both Dalton Shuffield and Wuthirch went 3-for-5 at the plate. Wuthrich scored a game-high three runs and was one of five Texas State batters to drive in two runs.

Along with Wuthrich, also hitting a homer was Travon Benton, Jaylen Hubbard and Ryan Newman.

Unlike Saturday’s doubleheader that saw two pitchers’ duels, the Bobcats jumped out early on GSU. Hubbard started the game by drawing a walk and Jaxon Williams followed by lining a double to right center. Will Hollis hit a comebacker up the middle that hit off the pitcher for a two-RBI single.

The first Bobcat homer of the contest came off the bat of Benton. The senior outfielder lifted a 2-2 offering for a two-run shot that cleared the right center field fence and gave TXST an early 4-0 lead.

Wuthrich led off the third by sending the ball into the netting above the left field wall. Following back-to-back singles, Benton and Shuffield moved into scoring position after a failed pickoff attempt at second base. Skyler Valentine followed by hitting a deep fly out to left field that easily brought home a run.

A 3-1 pitch was sent the opposite way by left-handed hitting Newman for a two-run home run. It was the senior first baseman’s 23rd career home run to move him into a tie for eighth on the Bobcats’ career list with Derek Scheible and Mark Younk.

Felipe Rodriguez reached base as the shortstop dropped a pop-up in the infield. It paid off for the Bobcats as Hubbard hit a no-doubter off the batter’s eye in center field for the third homer of the inning and give Texas State a 10-0 advantage.

Wuthrich increased the lead to 11 runs when he started off the fourth a solo shot that landed in the outfield of the softball field.

The Panthers got a run back in each the fifth and sixth innings on sacrifice flies.

With one out in the eighth, Wuthrich smacked a singled to left field. Shuffield followed two batters later and sent a deep shot to left center. The outfielder misjudged the ball and tied to make a leaping catch. The ball went over his glove and rolled to the wall for the run-rule walk-off victory.

Next up for TXST is the final midweek game of the season when the team makes the trip up I-35 to Austin to take on Texas. The game will be broadcast on Longhorn Network and start at 6:30 p.m.

• Box Score: https://txstatebobcats.com/boxscore.aspx?id=5775

Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Panthers

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The 30th-ranked Texas State baseball team split a twin bill on Saturday against Georgia State at Bobcat Ballpark. The Bobcats won the first game 5-2 before falling 3-1 in the second contest.

With the split, TXST is now 32-15 overall and 16-7 in the Sun Belt Conference while the Panthers are 14-33 on the season with a 5-18 mark in conference play.

Game 1: Texas State 5, Georgia State 1

Neither team was able to get anything going offensively for most of the first game of the day as the team’s recorded five hits apiece.

GSU got on the scoreboard first in the sixth when Josh Smith reached on a fielder’s choice to bring in a run.

TXST final got to Hunter Gaddis in the eighth when Dalton Shuffield led off with a double to left field as the ball hit off the leaping outfielder’s glove. After the sophomore advanced to third on a ground out, Ryan Newman laced a double that fell just fair down the right field line to tie the game.

After a pitching change, Felipe Rodriguez reached on an infield single to the new hurler after no one covered first base and Jaylen Hubbard drew a walk to load the bases. Jaxon Williams smashed the first pitch he saw into the netting above the left field fence for a grand slam and give the Bobcats a 5-1 lead.

Brent Hebert (4-1) picked up the win on the mound after throwing three scoreless innings of relief with nine strikeouts. Gaddis (1-6) took the loss despite striking out nine and giving up just three hits in 7.1 innings.

All five Texas State batters that recorded a hit in the game also scored a run.

Game 2: Georgia State 3, Texas State 1

The second game of the doubleheader also turned into a pitchers’ duel. Both hurlers kept the opponent off balance until the bottom of the fifth.

Rodriguez led off the frame with a single through the left side of the infield. He would advance to third on back-to-back ground outs. On a 0-2 pitch, Will Hollis smacked an RBI double to right center to put TXST ahead 1-0.

The score would remain the same until the top of the eighth when Rhett Harper hit a shot down the left field line that cleared the fence just inside the foul pole to tie the contest. Jake Corso tacked on another run that put the Panthers in front on an RBI double in the inning. The frame ended on that play as well when Rodriguez threw Daino Deas out at third after he rounded the bag too far.

A two out walk followed by back-to-back singles added an insurance run for GSU in the top of the ninth.

Ryan Watson (6-3) picked up the win after throwing the final 2.2 innings with two strikeouts and not allowing a hit. Hunter McMahon (5-5) took the loss the rubber. The sophomore right-hander was perfect for the first four innings before giving up a hit. He finished with five strikeouts while giving up two runs on four hits.

Both Rodriguez and Shuffield finished with two hits apiece at the plate. Also recording a base knock were John Wuthrich and Hollis.

The series concludes tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Bobcat Ballpark.

• Game 1 Box Score: https://txstatebobcats.com/boxscore.aspx?id=5773
• Game 2 Box Score: https://txstatebobcats.com/boxscore.aspx?id=5774

No. 30 Bobcats Host Georgia State

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The 30th-ranked Texas State baseball team is back home this weekend for a three-game series against Georgia State at Bobcat Ballpark.

Friday’s series opener will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday’s contest is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and the series finale on Sunday will see first pitch at 12 p.m.

Entering the game, the Bobcats are 31-14 overall and 15-6 in the Sun Belt Conference while the Panthers are 13-32 on the season with a 4-17 mark in conference play.

A video stream and live stats will be available the entire series. Brant Freeman will have the radio call for the contests on KTSW 89.9 FM.

Probable Starting Pitchers

• Friday: TXST RHP Nicholas Fraze (6-3, 4.75 ERA) vs. GSU RHP Hunter Gaddis (1-5, 5.78 ERA)
• Saturday: TXST RHP Hunter McMahon (5-4, 4.46 ERA) vs. GSU TBA
• Sunday: TXST RHP Connor Reich (6-1, 3.45 ERA) vs. GSU TBA

Scouting Texas State

Texas State is coming off an 8-5 defeat at UTSA that snapped its 10-game winning streak. The Bobcats enter the game 15-6 at home this season with a 7-2 mark in Sun Belt action.

Jaxon Williams leads the team in batting average (.348) and hits (62) while both he and Jaylen Hubbard have scored a team-high 51 runs. Hubbard enters the game hitting .331 with 60 hits, 15 of which are doubles.

After getting plunked three times by Roadrunners’ pitchers, Will Hollis increased his on-base percentage to .477. The junior outfielder is batting .329 with 14 doubles and a team best 38 RBIs. Also batting over .300 is Dalton Shuffield (.322), who is a perfect 9-for-9 stealing bases.

Skyler Valentine is second on the team with a 37 RBIs. He also one of four Bobcats with five home runs along with John Wuthrich, Hollis and Hubbard.

The starting rotation remains the same with Nicholas Fraze scheduled to start Friday’s opener. Hunter McMahon will take the hill on Saturday and Connor Reich is slated to start the series finale.

Scouting Georgia State

Georgia State is coming off a series loss to Coastal Carolina at home but ended the three-game set with a 15-11 victory. The Panther’s win snapped a seven-game losing streak. When playing on the road, GSU is 4-13 with a 2-7 mark against conference opponents. Both wins came during the first conference series of the year at Appalachian State.

Just two players are hitting over .300 led by Brandon Bell at .328. He also has a team-high 58 hits and 11 doubles while scoring 30 times, driving in 19 and stealing four bases. Griffin Cheney enters hitting .313 and tied for the team lead with 31 runs scored with Daino Deas.

Luke Leonard has a team-high 30 RBIs and is second on the squad with three home runs. He enters with a .296 batting average.

Pacing GSU with six homers is Elian Merejo. The junior catcher has 29 RBIs, 28 runs scored and is hitting .270.

Hunter Gaddis, the Sun Belt’s Preseason Pitcher of the Year, is scheduled to start on Friday. He comes on with a 1-5 record, 5.78 ERA and has struck out 82 while walking 19 in 67 innings. Both Saturday’s and Sunday’s starters are TBA.

All-Time Series

Texas State leads the all-time series 11-4 after sweeping the three games last season in Atlanta. The last time the teams met in San Marcos was 2017 when the Panthers won two games. It is the only time that the Bobcats have not taken the regular season series from them.

When playing at Bobcat Ballpark, TXST is 6-3 against GSU. However, the programs have split the last six meetings after the Bobcats won swept a three-game set in 2014.

• Live Stats (Fri): http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=249879
• Video (Fri): https://txstatebobcats.com/watch/?Live=1797&type=Live
• Live Stats (Sat): http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=249880
• Video (Sat): https://txstatebobcats.com/watch/?Live=1798&sport=1&type=Live
• Live Stats (Sun): http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=249881
• Video (Sun): https://txstatebobcats.com/watch/?Live=1799&type=Live
• TXST Game Notes: https://txstatebobcats.com/documents/2019/5/2//46_48_Georgia_State.pdf

Winning Streak Halted at UTSA

SAN ANTONIO – The 10-game winning streak for 30th-ranked Texas State came to an end Tuesday night at Roadrunner Field as UTSA came away with an 8-5 win.

The Roadrunners scored first their first time at the plate. Two runs came home on a Griffin Paxton single back up the middle. More runs were prevented from scoring when Skyler Valentine threw out Nick Thornquist at third to end the frame.

Ryan Newman led off the third with a bloop double that landed near the right field line. Two batters later, Jaylen Hubbard plated the senior first baseman with a double of his own but this time down the left field line to cut the deficit in half. A 3-2 pitch to Jaxon Williams was into the left center gap for TXST’s third double of the frame and tied the game 2-2.

UTSA responded in the bottom half of the inning as Bryan Sturges hit a two-run home run over the scoreboard in left center. The Roadrunners extended their lead with another two-run homer in the sixth off the bat of Bryan Arias. The home team tacked on another run in the sixth on a double to go up 7-2.

The final run for UTSA came on a Thornquist solo home run to left center in the seventh.

In the next half inning, Hubbard was plunked and Williams hit a bloop single to put two on for Hollis. The junior outfielder sent a blast to right center that was caught on the warning track. Hubbard was able to get back, tag second and slide into third safely as the relay throw was off the mark.

John Wuthirch hit a chopper to the third baseman, who went to second but saw Williams slide in safely and Hubbard score to cut the deficit to five. A walk to Travon Benton loaded the bases. Skyler Valentine took advantage with a bloop single to left center that brought home two and made it an 8-5 lead for the Roadrunners.

TXST attempted a late rally as Williams drew a walk and Hollis was hit by a pitch with two outs. However, a fly out flew right field ended the game.

Suffering the loss was Garrett Herrmann (4-2) after giving up four runs on six hits in three innings while striking out four. Connor Heffron (1-1) picked up the win as he tossed two scoreless innings. Bradley Griggs threw the final 1.2 innings and struck out four to earn his first save of the season.

Recording scoreless relief appearances for Texas State was Matthew Charles, Brent Hebert and Dontae Woddard.

Williams accounted for two of the Bobcats six hits. Hollis finished 1-for-2 and was plunked three times.

Next up for the Bobcats is a Sun Belt Conference series at home against Georgia State. Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

• Box Score: https://txstatebobcats.com/boxscore.aspx?path=baseball&id=5738

Hollis Selected Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week

NEW ORLEANS – After a strong performance at the plate last week, Texas State junior outfield Will Hollis was selected as the Sun Belt Conference Community Coffee Pitcher of the Week. He is the third Bobcat to earn one of the two weekly conference honors this season.

Hollis led TXST with a .438 batting average (7-for-16) as the team extended its winning streak to 10 games, the longest active streak in the nation, after beating Texas in midweek action and sweeping Louisiana on the road.

The McKinney, Texas native also hit two home runs, two doubles and finished with eight RBIs and five runs scored during the week. Both of his homers came against the Longhorns. The first was a solo shot in fifth and his second was a two-run blast that pulled the Bobcats to within on in the bottom of the ninth.

Hollis followed by going 3-for-6 with four RBIs and a run scored in the 13-9 series opening victory against the Ragin’ Cajuns. After going 1-for-4 in the second game in Lafayette, Louisiana, he was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, two walks and plated a run in the series finale.

It is the first time in Hollis’ career that he received the weekly Sun Belt award. He joins Nicholas Fraze and Connor Reich as Texas State players to be recognized this season. Hollis is also the first Bobcat hitter to earn the award since Jaylen Hubbard did so on Apr. 17, 2017.

No. 30 Bobcats Travel Down I-35 to Face UTSA

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The 30th-ranked Texas State baseball team makes its final trip down I-35 to take on rival UTSA on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Roadrunner Field.

Coming into the game, the Bobcats are 31-13 on the season and their 10-game winning streak is the longest active streak in the nation. The Roadrunners enter with a 20-24 record.

A video stream and live stats will be available for the game. Brant Freeman will have the radio call for the contest on KTSW 89.9 FM.

Probable Starting Pitchers

Friday: TXST RHP Garrett Herrmann (4-1, 4.24 ERA) vs. UTSA TBA

Scouting Texas State

Texas State is coming off its second straight Sun Belt Conference sweep, this time coming on the road at Louisiana. The Bobcats enter with a 9-2 record in midweek games and are 13-5 in true road games.

Jaxon Williams continues to lead TXST with a .345 batting average, 60 hits and 50 runs scored. The junior infielder has also drawn 33 walks, driven in 23 runs and hit four home runs.

Second on the team with 59 hits, 49 runs scored and a .333 average is Jaylen Hubbard. The senior third baseman leads the Bobcats with 12 hit by pitches and nine stolen bases and is tied for the lead in doubles (14) and homers (5). Others to hit five home runs are Will Hollis, Skyler Valentine and John Wuthrich.

Hollis comes in plating 38 runs, drawing 37 walks, hitting 14 doubles and batting .327. Dalton Shuffield is also hitting .327 having recorded 56 hits. He is also a perfect 8-for-8 stealing bases.

The fifth TXST player with an average above .300 is Wuthrich at .312. In 28 games, he has recorded 34 hits, scored 32 times and driven in 30 runs.

Scheduled to make his 10th midweek start on the mound is Garrett Herrmann. He is 4-1 with a 4.24 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 40.1 innings. Tuesday will be his third start against the Roadrunners. In the previous two games, he has combined to win both starts, strikeout six and record a 3.27 ERA in 11 frames of work.

Scouting UTSA

UTSA is coming off losing two of three at home this past weekend to Western Kentucky. The Roadrunners are 13-14 at home and 6-5 in midweek games.

Six players are hitting better than .300 led by Ryan Stacy at .365. He is also one of three players with a team-high five home runs along with Bryan Arias (.358) and Nick Thornquist (.339). Arias enters with a team leading 58 hits and eight steals as well.

Bryan Sturges comes in with a .336 average, 35 RBIs, 31 runs scored, a team-high 16 doubles and four homers. Dylan Rock is contributing a team best 42 runs scored with a .333 average. The sixth player batting over .300 is Griffin Paxton at .313.

Tuesday’s starting pitcher is to be announced.

Both Cameron Carver (0-2, 8.36 ERA, 10 K) and Hunter Mason (2-2, 5.11 ERA, 35 K) have earned a team-high two saves. Bradley Griggs has made a team-high 22 appearances on the mound with three starts. He is 3-3 with an 8.01 ERA and has struck out 33 in 29.1 innings.

Also making 20 appearances is Jake Harrison. He enters with a 1-3 mark, 5.55 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 35.2 innings.

All-Time Series

Texas State leads the all-time series 59-36 having won the first two meetings this season. With a win on Tuesday, the Bobcats will sweep the season series for the first time since 2011.

The first game in San Antonio on Mar. 5 saw TXST come away with an 8-3 victory. When playing the Roadrunners on the road, the Bobcats sport a 27-17 mark.

• Live Stats: https://goutsa.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
• Video: http://conferenceusa.com/watch/?Live=7932&path=utsa
• Audio: https://txstatebobcats.com/watch/?Live=1850&type=Live
• TXST Game Notes: https://txstatebobcats.com/documents/2019/4/29/45_UTSA.pdf

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State head coach Zenarae Antoine announced Lillie Moore of Kansas City Kansas Community College has committed to the Bobcats to continue both her educational and basketball careers.

Lillie Moore
Magnolia, Ark. | Magnolia High School
Forward | 5’11

“Lillie is a welcome addition to our Bobcat family,” Coach Antoine said. “Not many student-athletes are able to say that they competed for and won a national championship at any level. Lillie is a student-athlete that can confidently say that. She comes from a strong junior college program that is not only competitive on the basketball court but also in the classroom. She will add depth at the forward position and complement our team culture with a winning mentality on and off the floor. It is a great day to be a Bobcat!”

Moore earned first team all-region and second team all-KJCC as a freshman and second team all-region and second team all-conference honors as a sophomore. She was named to the All-National Tournament team after the Blue Devils cruised to the 2019 NJCAA DII National Basketball national championship.

Moore tallied double-doubles in the regional championship (22 points, 14 rebounds) and the national semifinal (22 points, 12 rebounds) to propel KCKCC to the title game. She added six points and 12 rebounds in the tournament-clinching victory.

She ended her sophomore campaign as the second leading scorer for the Blue Devils with 14.7 points per outing. Moore connected on 53.0 percent of her shots to rank third on the team.

She added 8.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game in 18.1 minutes a night. Moore started 35 of the 36 games she played for head coach Joe McKinstry.

Moore was active in the community during her two years at the junior college ranks. She volunteered on the Make A Wish Committee, worked as an advisor for Vacation Bible School, and volunteered with the Kansas City Royals.

“I am extremely happy for Lillie and her family and the opportunity she has earned from Texas State,” Coach McKinstry said. “Lillie is a skilled forward who left an impact on our program that will last for many years. We are very grateful for her dedication and hard work and we are excited to follow her journey as a Bobcat.”

Bobcats show out, Romero sets school record in regular season finale

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State track and field teams are heating up at the right time as they dominated its regular season finale by winning first place on both sides.

The men tallied 301 points and the women registered 237 points, racking up a total of 22 victories, 20 improved top 10 Sun Belt Conference marks, seven new top 10 marks, and one newly established school record by junior Leslie Romero at the Bobcat Classic in the confines of the Texas State Track and Field Complex.

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