Texas State faces elimination after loss to Troy in Sun Belt tournament

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Photo by Gerald Castillo

Texas State Baseball

Texas State lost its Sun Belt tournament opener to Troy, 5-1, on Wednesday inside Russo Park in Lafayette, Louisiana.

The No. 3-seeded Trojans (39-18, 19-11 Sun Belt) held a 2-1 advantage over the No. 6-seeded Bobcats (28-27-1, 16-14) heading into the bottom of the eighth, and used a 3-run frame to put the game out of reach.

With the loss, Texas State faces elimination in the loser’s bracket against the loser of No. 2 Louisiana and No. 7 Little Rock on Thursday at 12:30 p.m.

The Bobcats put themselves in good position early in Wednesday's game. Texas State jumped in front of Troy, 1-0, after senior catcher Jared Huber hit an infield single in the top of the second.

But the Trojans evened the score with an RBI double from sophomore third baseman Drew Fredric in the fifth. Troy grabbed the lead with a sole home run by junior first baseman Cole Prestegard in the seventh.

The Bobcats had an opportunity to tie the game in the top of the eighth. Texas State loaded the bases when senior shortstop Luke Sherley reached on an error, junior third baseman Jaylen Hubbard was hit by a pitch and senior center fielder Derek Scheible walked. But the Bobcats were unable to do any damage.

Troy added three runs in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single by redshirt freshman left fielder Rigsby Mosley and a two-run pinch-hit triple from junior Sadler Goodwin.  

Troy sealed the game by sending Texas State down in order in the ninth.

The Bobcats wasted a strong outing from sophomore pitcher Nick Fraze, who only gave up one run on five hits in six innings of work. Junior Brayden Theriot took the loss for Texas State after allowing four runs on four hits in 1.2 innings pitched.

Troy redshirt senior shortstop Matt Sanders and redshirt senior right fielder Joey Denison both went 2-for-4 with a run scored each. Sadler and Goodwin tallied two RBIs each. Trojans starting pitcher Levi Thomas only gave up one run in 5.2 innings on the mound. Junior righty CJ Carter secured the win with 3.1-innings of hitless ball.

San Marcos Daily Record

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