Texas State Baseball Stumbles in Series Finale vs. Georgia State

By Reily Chestnut
Sports Reporter

Following an incredible 9th inning comeback on Saturday night to walk-off 10-9 against the Georgia State Panthers, the Bobcats couldn’t hold it together as they fell 11-8 to lose the series to the Panthers.

In what could be described as a frustrating time all series for Texas State pitchers, the series finale wouldn’t be any different as the ‘cats threw out six pitchers to try and stop the Panthers unexpected offensive attack. The game would see the ‘cats starter Cam Baird start off strong as going into the 5th inning Baird had held Georgia State scoreless, the first time any Texas State starter had done that all series while getting a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th. However, the Panthers wouldn’t wait long to respond as the 5th inning saw Panthers second basemen Will Kilgore homer to cut into the lead before the Panthers scored two more to take a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the 5th. But that didn’t keep the Bobcats quiet as the ‘cats got 4 runs across, first on a single by Teddy Hoffman, after which the ‘cats got more with a bases loaded walk to shortstop Luke Sherley, then a two-run single by Dylan Paul to put themselves ahead 6-3.

Unfortunately for Texas State, their relievers couldn’t deliver as the next two innings saw the Panthers score 8 unanswered runs for go up 11-6 while the ‘cats went through four different pitchers. The order of the game would only be threatened in the bottom of the ninth inning when Derek Scheible and Jonathan Ortega both drove in a run with the bases loaded each time to cut the lead down to 11-8 Georgia State. The rally would be snuffed out and the series ended on a double play grounder by junior Theodore Hoffman.

The loss in this 11-8 final will be charged to sophomore lefty Brandon Lewis as the Bobcats fall to twenty-four and twenty-five overall while holding onto a ten and fourteen record in conference play as they have lost eight of their last nine conference games.

Look for the Bobcats to try and right the ship next weekend out in Lafayette against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns with Game 1 set for next Friday, May 12th at 6PM.

Featured image by Madison Tyson.