No. 6 Texas State Capitalizes on Ragin' Cajun Errors in Ninth Inning Rally
TROY, Ala. – No. 6 seed Texas State scored four runs in the ninth inning thanks to two errors as the Bobcats came roaring back for an 8-7 victory over No. 3 seed UL Lafayette in the opening game for both teams in the 2015 Sun Belt Baseball Championship at Riddle-Pace Field in Troy, Ala.
The Ragin’ Cajuns (34-21) started the ninth inning with a 7-4 lead, but Texas State (23-30-1) redshirt-freshman Zach Sullivan started the top of the ninth with a single off Cajuns pitcher Dylan Moore before being retired on a fielder’s choice. Junior Cory Geisler singled to center before the Cajuns recorded the second out via a strikeout. Sophomore Granger Studdard hit a towering fly ball to left field which was dropped by left fielder Kyle Clement allowing freshman Theodore Hoffman and Geisler to score to bring the Bobcats to within one run, 7-6. Junior Tanner Hill walked to put runners on first and second for the Bobcats. Senior Ben McElroy then hit a slow grounder to second base, but the ball was booted to load the bases. Redshirt senior David Paiz played the hero as he knocked a single down the right field line to score Hill and Studdard and put the Bobcats ahead 8-7.
Paiz’s two RBI in the ninth gave him six RBI on the night as he drove in all of Texas State’s earned runs. He finished three-for-five, including a towering home run in the fourth inning.
The Cajuns started the game with two runs in the bottom as senior Tyler Girouard started the frame with a double to right center. Junior Nick Thurman reached second base on a dropped fly ball. Senior Evan Powell followed by knocking a ball up the middle to plate Girouard. Senior Greg Davis grounded into a double play which scored Thurman.
The Cajuns tacked on a run in the third inning with a solo home run by junior Stefan Trosclair. The Bobcats answered in the top of the fourth as Paiz crushed a three run home run to left field to tie the game. The 3-3 score didn’t last long as Powell led off the bottom half of the fourth with a solo home run to centerfield. The Cajuns then followed with a Davis single and a double by senior Dylan Butler to put runners on second and third. Davis and Butler came home to score when Sun Belt Player of the Year ,junior Blake Trahan, doubled to right field to chase Texas State starter junior Lucas Humpel.
Texas State scored a run in the sixth to cut the score to 6-4 as Paiz singled up the middle to score Hill who had reached on a one out double. The Cajuns restored the three run advantage in the seventh as Trosclair doubled to right field to score junior Joe Robbins who had reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice.
Humpal’s day finished after 3.1 innings as he gave up 10 hits and six runs. Freshman Braden Pearson pitched 3.2 innings while only giving up one hit and one unearned run. Tyler Giovanoni (2-1) picked up the victory for the Bobcats as he pitched 1.1 innings while striking out two. Geisler moved from centerfield to the mound to get the last out of the game and pick up his third save of the year.
Trahan finished the game three-for-five with two RBIs for the Cajuns. Trosclair and Powell each collected two hits, one run, and two RBI apiece.
Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Gunner Leger pitched 5.2 innings and surrendered six hits and four runs while striking out five as the Cajuns starter. Junior Will Bacon pitched 2.1 innings of one hit relief. Freshman Dylan Moore (3-3) took the loss as he pitched the final inning and gave up three hits and four unearned runs.
Texas State advances to the winner’s bracket where they will play the winner of No. 2 seed Troy and No. 7 seed UT Arlington at 7:30 p.m. CT tomorrow. UL Lafayette will play the loser of the contest between Troy and UTA at 12:30 p.m. CT tomorrow.