Bobcats secure series win with extra-inning victory over UTA

Texas State secured a series win over UT Arlington on Friday after it picked up a 5-1 victory in 10 innings. 

The Bobcats win over the Mavericks inside Clay Gould Ballpark in Arlington notches their fourth straight Sun Belt victory, and second series win in a row. 

Texas State (27-26-1, 15-14 Sun Belt) and UTA (21-32, 11-18) played a stalemate through most of Friday’s game. The Mavericks finally broke the scoreless tie with an RBI single by senior first baseman Omar Salinas to give them a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning. 

The Bobcats evened the score in the top of the ninth. Junior first baseman Ryan Newman started Texas State’s threat with a one-out single. He moved the second on an error and advanced to third on a passed ball. Senior catcher Jared Huber put down an squeeze bunt, which allowed Newman to score and even the score. 

The Mavericks had an opportunity to end the game in the ninth when they moved a runner all the way to third, but he was left stranded. 

Texas State broke through in the top of the 10th with four runs. The Bobcats closed out the 10th to pick up a 5-1 win over UTA. 

Junior Braden Pearson recorded the win for Texas State after throwing two scoreless innings, striking out two and allowing two hits. Starter Connor Reich tallied a no-decision after he allowed UTA’s lone run and gave up eight hits in 5.1 innings pitched.  

Friday’s win pushes the Bobcats into sixth place in the Sun Belt standings by a half game over Little Rock. If Texas State can keep the sixth spot, it’ll earn a bye from first-round, single-elimination play in the Sun Belt tournament, which begins Tuesday.