Bobcats Fall for Fifth Straight Game

By Reily Chestnut
Assistant Sports Director

Looks like the ‘Cats been put back in the bag. Texas State has now dropped five straight after losing their fourth straight conference game, this time by score of 6-3 to Little Rock.

The game started pretty nicely for starter Connor Reich, who got called to start off the second straight series as sophomore Nicholas Fraze continues to deal with an injury. For the second straight week he would be facing an ace on a division leader in the Sun Belt as Little Rock came into the game tied for first in the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) West. At first that didn’t seem to faze Reich as the righty blew through the first seven Trojans by striking out four. However, that’s when the wheels fell off for Reich as he would give up two singles, put both runners in scoring position after a wild pitch and then give away both runs on a throwing error to make it 2-0 Trojans. Cue to more first pitch singles and another run comes in before right fielder Derek Scheible saves Reich’s skin by busting out the cannon to catch Troy Alexander at second.

But all hope wasn’t lost…yet.

Move up to the third inning after Reich’s messy third and Jonathan Ortega comes calling for the Bobcats. Ortega, who has collected multiple hits in three straight games for the second time this month, powers his first home run of the season over the left center field wall to cut it to 3-2 Little Rock. Move forward to the Bobcats’ fifth inning and J.O. comes up to the plate looking to tie the game. On the first pitch he sees after blasting his power ball Ortega hits a sac fly to bring home Jacob Almendarez. 3-3 heading into the sixth with the game up in the air.

Unfortunately, Reich got knocked for three straight singles in the top of the sixth that gave the Trojans the lead back up a run before padding it with a run scoring double play off Reich. Fast forward to the top of the seventh after Reich gives up three straight hits again to allow another run and his night was through en route to his second straight loss. While Bobcat relievers Kyle Bradford and Braden Pearson would impress by holding the Trojans hitless the rest of the way, the damage had been done.

Texas State drops to 14-10-1 with a 3-4 SBC record after losing their second straight home game for the first time in 2018. But they aren’t going to have time to sulk about it, trying to break the slump Friday evening. First pitch is at 6 p.m. right here on KTSW 89.9!

Featured Photo by Marina Bustillo-Mendoza.