Trojans Lose Late Lead, Fall to Texas State

Friday, May 2

San Marcos, Texas

6:30pm

Troy University

21-25, 8-13

Texas State

25-21, 13-9

Troy

Texas State

Photo by: Joshua Thurston

Trojans Lose Late Lead, Fall to Texas State

5/2/2014 9:40:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Wes Johnson

Box Score

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Troy University baseball team couldn't hold a late lead as Texas State took the series opener from the Trojans 7-3 at Bobcat Ballpark on Friday.

Troy (21-25, 8-13 SBC) falls to 2-10 in Friday games on the season and is 0-20 when trailing after eight innings. Despite the result, the Trojans battled throughout against Texas State ace Austen Williams and reclaimed the lead in the seventh.

Ali Knowles was called off the bench with two outs in the top of the seventh with Troy trailing 2-1. The senior outfielder ripped a 3-2 pitch off the third base bag and into left field. The hit scored Matthew Howard and Trevin Hall to hand the Trojans a 3-2 advantage.

In the bottom of the inning, Texas State's bats came alive. Eight batters came to the plate with four scoring on three hits. After the Bobcats put runners at second and third to start the frame, Trey Hicks tied the game with a ground ball to shortstop. Troy starter Shane McCain's day came to an end when he walked the next batter to load the bases.

McCain (3-4) would take the loss after pitching six innings. The senior allowed six runs – four earned – on just four hits; he also struck out seven batters. Williams (7-1) claimed the victory tossing 7 2/3 innings allowing three runs and striking out seven.

Marc Skinner would take over in relief and surrender a two-RBI single while a squeeze bunt would plate another run for Texas State. The Bobcats (25-21, 13-9) would add an insurance run in the eighth.

Troy opened the scoring in the third when Jo-El Bennett tripled to start the inning. Two pitches later, Howard drove him home with a double down the line in right field. The Trojans finished with seven hits with Bennett collecting three of them.

The teams will square off again on Saturday at 3 p.m. in a Sun Belt Network televised game. Tanner Hicks is expected to start against RHP Taylor Black.