Bobcats trump the Penguins in the season opener

By Hunter Mancuso 

KTSW Sports Reporter

SAN MARCOS – The Texas State Bobcats took on the Youngstown State Penguins in the season opener and had an absolute field day, beating the penguins 20-2. 

It was all Bobcats from the beginning, and they never looked back. In the first three innings, the Bobcats dropped an astounding 17 runs on the Penguins showing no sign of slowing down during the whole ordeal. Five home runs were hit across the game, three of which coming in the first two innings. The biggest of home runs came off the bat of Cade Manning in the second inning, unloading a no doubt shot into the night sky for a grand slam, putting his team’s lead to 12 at that point in the game. 

 Austin Eaton got the nod for the bump to start the season for the Bobcats. Eaton tallied four innings on the night, striking out four and allowing the same number of walks all while keeping the Penguins off the board for his opening day performance. 

 A massive win in game 1 won’t have the Bobcats walking around thinking they are untouchable. The Bobcats implement the “midnight rule” where the team celebrates the win until midnight where it becomes a new day and time to focus on the next one. 

 According to Bobcats Coach Steven Trout, the confidence is high but the mindset is still in focus mode. 

 “We just can’t go in and go ‘we’re just gonna beat these guys just cause we beat them by 18,’” said Trout. “You gotta take your confidence after a win like tonight and role it into the next day.”  

 It’s no secret that to drop 20 points in a single game, let alone on opening day, essentially every person who suited up and played that day pulled their own weight and helped contribute to the success of the team’s victory.  

 Starting right fielder Cade Manning says the massive win helps ensure the locker room that there is no shortage of talent anywhere across the board. 

 “It’s a huge confidence booster knowing that it’s not just 9 guys we have out there,” said Manning. “We have a ton of dudes out there, every single guy in a uniform can play”. 

 The Bobcats look to get the series win and potentially look for an opening series sweep against the Penguins as the series plays out across the weekend.