Bobcat Baseball 2023 Recap
Sports Reporter
The University of Louisiana defeated Texas State 12-6 in an elimination game for the Sun Belt tournament title in Montgomery, Alabama, ending their 2023 season.
The Bobcats finished (36-23) overall and 17-13 in the conference play, placing them fifth behind the Ragin Cajuns in the Sun Belt.
The Bobcats are on the outside looking in on their second chance at a College World Series run. Though the season has ended, the Bobcats campaign saw a historical program and individual achievements throughout the season.
Coach Steven Trout became the fastest coach in program history to reach 100 wins midway through the season.
Several of Trout’s wins came against ranked opponents. The Bobcats took wins against several ranked teams, including Texas, TCU, UTSA and Southern Miss.
The offensive production paved the way for the Bobcat’s success. With the team recording the second-highest number of home runs in program history.
Bobcats Freshman Chase Mora led the Bobcats in home runs with 17, setting the record for the number of home runs recorded by a Freshman in Bobcat baseball history, surpassing the previous record set by Tyler Sibley in 2009.
“The crazy part is he is just now coming into his own from a hitters standpoint,” Trout said. “He hit with power early, but now he is just becoming an overall better hitter at the plate.”
Shortstop Davis Powell led the team in hits and batting average with 62 hits on the year and a 337 batting average to go with it.
Outfielder Jose Gonzalez led the team in RBI with 60 and showed off his speed leading the Bobcats with 11 stolen bases. Gonzalez also recorded the second most home runs on the team with 13 to end his senior season. Gonzalez told The University Star what they did this year was special.
“I think what we’ve done this season is special because we haven’t had our best every game,” Gonzalez said. “I mean, it just shows you how much talent, like raw talent is on this team.”
The Bobcats’ pitching didn’t go without notice this season. RHP Toni Robbie led the Bobcats with a 4.33 ERA, while RHP Levi Wells led the team with 98 strikeouts.
Wells was awarded to the second team all Sun Belt team and Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week on Apr. 17. RHP Triston Dixon led the team in saves and was honored for his performance in the Sun Belt tournament to the All-Tournament team.
The home runs, strikeouts, and success on the field brought the San Marcos and Texas State community to the stands at Bobcat BallPark this season, breaking the all-time single-season game attendance record against the Texas Longhorns on Apr. 10.
“It was an awesome atmosphere,” Trout said. “You wanna make fun and exciting couldn’t be more proud of the fans for showing up and getting after it; thanks for the fans coming out .”
The Bobcat’s success on the field also transitioned into the classroom. The Bobcats recorded the highest spring semester GPA in program history.
Concluding the season and semester means a handful of seniors will have played their last game in maroon and gold. RHP Zeke Wood, who spent the past three seasons with the Bobcats, spoke on the States Up Podcast on what it means to be a senior and his last moments on the mound at Bobcat BallPark.
“Once I got off the mound, it hit me,” Woods said. “Once I got the curtain call and started heading to the dugout. That was pretty awesome. That was it; it was a special moment I will never forget.
Notable Seniors:
With the 2023 season wrapped up. With program milestones in attendance, coaching, and player performance, the Bobcats look to regroup over the off-season and be well-prepared for the 2024 season.
Featured Image by Beau Kelly.
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