SAN MARCOS, Texas – Washington State's ninth-inning rally came up short in a 7-6 defeat to Texas State University Sunday afternoon.
The Cougars traded leads with the Bobcats throughout the day and received two-run home runs from Stefan Van Horn and Cameron Frost but a ninth-inning comeback attempt came up short after loading the bases to start the inning. Weston Hatten finished the game with two hits.
The Cougars nearly scored in the first as Trek Stemp led off the game with a walk but was stranded at third after the Texas State leftfielder made a nice play to end the inning, running down Patrick McGrath's drive at the wall.
Van Horn gave Washington State a 2-0 lead in the second with a two-run blast to left, scoring Hatten who had led off the inning with a line drive single to centerfield. It was Van Horn's first career hit and WSU's first homer of the season.
Texas State pushed two runs across in the third and took a 3-2 lead in the fourth with a two-out RBI single but Cougar freshman starting pitcher Parker McFadden buckled down and limited the damage.
The Cougar offense heated up in the fifth as Jack Strunc delivered a two-hit RBI single to left that scored Matheny from second and tied the game at three. Frost followed by hammering a 2-1 pitch deep over the left field wall for a two-run blast, his first of the season, and a 5-3 WSU lead.
Right-handed reliever Ryan Walker took over for McFadden to start the fifth and fired a perfect inning before running into trouble in the sixth. Texas State pushed three runs across in the inning, using four hits and a Cougar throwing error to take a 6-5 lead. The Bobcats tacked on another run in the seventh as a balk call brought home a run for a 7-5 advantage.
Washington State put two runners on in the eighth as Frost and Justin Harrer each drew walks. Texas State went to the bullpen with two outs to bring in a lefthander who got the left-handed hitting Wes Leow to groundout to end the inning.
The Cougars continued to battle at the plate in the ninth as Van Horn and pinch-hitter Derek Chapman each drew walks to start the inning. Trek Stemp followed with a sacrifice bunt and beat the throw at first to load the bases with nobody out. Bobcat closer Pasquale Mazzoccoli then induced a ground ball to third base for a 5-4-3 double play, allowing one run to come across on the play. With Chapman on third and two outs, Frost stepped in and lined one right at the first baseman for the final out.
Texas State reliever Chase Hodson picked up the win after pitching 2.2 scoreless innings and Mazzoccoli earned the save. Walker suffered the loss after allowing three earned runs in 2.2 innings. McFadden received a no-decision after striking out two, scattering three hits and allowing three runs, just two earned in four innings.
The series wraps up Monday at 3 p.m. (PT).
