Walkoff Grand Slam Lifts Longhorns Past Bobcats

The Bobcats will enter weekend play fourth in the Sun Belt Conference West Division.

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas State baseball team dropped an 11-10 decision on a walkoff grand slam to No. 18 Texas Tuesday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

The Bobcats (22-22-1) fell back to .500 on the year for the first time since early March, while the Longhorns improved to 31-17 on the season.

TXST initially led 1-0 before UT even had a chance to bat, and the visitors were able to pull ahead 3-0 after scratching across two more in the third. The Longhorns flipped the script with a four-spot in the home half of the third, and they added two additional tallies an inning later to take a 6-3 advantage.

Texas State plated seven runs across the next three frames to find a 10-6 lead, but Texas scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to earn the come-from-behind triumph. San Marcos native David Hamilton hit a walkoff grand slam for the Longhorns.

Juniors Jonathan Ortega and Jaylen Hubbard both went 2-for-5 and combined for five RBIs, five runs scored and two home runs. The entire Bobcat lineup also struck out just once all night.

Sophomore starting pitcher Zachary Leigh conceded five runs on seven hits in the first 3.0 innings. He struck out three and did not issue a walk. Four pitchers bridged the gap from Leigh to junior closer Brayden Theriot. Senior Cam Baird and juniors Braden Pearson, Anthony Pagano and Seth Jordan combined to allow just one run and one hit in 5.0 innings of work. Theriot (1-3) was unable to record an out, and he took the loss after allowing five runs on two hits, while walking three.

Hamilton finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs and one run. Kody Clemens was the only other member of the team with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-5. Masen Hibbeler drove in two runs and scored twice. Duke Ellis and Tate Shaw also touched home plate twice.

Texas used nine pitchers throughout the night. Starter Kamron Fields allowed three runs on two hits in the first 2.0 innings. Chris Fearon (1-0) was the final Longhorn on the mound. He pitched a clean ninth to earn the win.

With the triumph, UT wins the season series against the maroon and gold. The third and final tilt will be May 15 back in Austin.

Texas State is slated to remain on the road for a three-game series against Arkansas State May 4-6 in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The Bobcats will enter weekend play fourth in the Sun Belt Conference West Division.

Score by Innings                    R  H  E

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Texas State……… 102 023 200 – 10  9  3

Texas…………… 004 200 005 – 11 10  2

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Win – Fearon, C. (1-0). Loss – Theriot, B. (1-3). Save – None.