JONESBORO, Ark. (5/8/26) – Arkansas State (28-20, 11-14 SBC) fell at home in the series opener, 2-6 against Texas State (29-21, 11-14 SBC) after the bobcats scored five of their six runs with two outs Friday evening at Tomlinson Stadium-Slayton Family Field.
An early jump for the Red Wolves,
Cason Campbell and
Patrick Engskov striking back-to-back hits to land in scoring position.
Evan Griffis moved them both over with a sacrifice fly to right to break the eggs.
Pitchers dominated the next two frames, with only one batter reaching on a walk between both teams. Texas State cracked a pair of singles on either side of a strikeout to begin the fourth, then drew a walk to fill up the bases. A flyout put A-State just one out away from relief, but the Bobcats struck their third single of the inning to score two before the middle of the inning.
Patrick Engskov answered just two pitches later with a ball sent to the road bullpen in a hurry for his ninth home run of the season to tie the game back at two apiece.
A leadoff fifth-inning double spelled trouble, as Bobcat runner made his way over to third through a strikeout and an infield groundout; but a single again sent the runner across the plate to give TXST the 3-2 advantage.
The A-State offense sputtered across the next four innings, only making noise off a pair of
Kaden Amundson singles in the fifth and eighth innings, respectively.
Red Wolves starting arm
Andrew Allen finished the night with 6.0 innings and six hits allowed, yielding three total runs, and send seven back to the dugout on strikes.
Texas State loaded the bases again in the seventh, plating run number four with a tapper up the middle, but A-State ended the inning with a play at the plate, gunning down a greedy Bobcat runner.
Texas State put runners on the corners with one out in the top of the ninth, setting up an RBI-groundout. The Bobcats followed up with a single to score another for the four-run lead and three outs to play for. Arkansas State's answer was a walk to start the inning, then a single to put the tying run on deck with one out. Texas State's Wade Cooper locked up his complete game with a pair of strikeouts to put a seal on the series opener.
Win:Â Wade Cooper (5-3)
UP NEXT
A-State faces Texas State in game two of the series on Saturday, May 9, with first pitch set for 6 p.m., and graduation and Senior Day recognitions beginning at 5 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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