SAN MARCOS — No. 25 Texas State received a strong pitching performance from Carson Smith, who fanned a school-record-tying 14, and the Bobcats took the series opener against UTSA, 3-0, on Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark.
Smith, who struck out the leadoff batter in each of his eight innings of work, ran his record to 7-3 with the win. He walked five and gave up just a pair of singles before leaving the game. Jeff McVaney came on in the ninth to pick up his fourth save after surrendering back-to-back singles with one down.
Junior Casey Selsor (4-5) took the loss after giving up an unearned run in the third. The San Antonio native, who held Texas State (29-16, 18-7 SLC) hitless through 5.1 innings, struck out five, gave up only two hits and walked one in his seven panels.
The Bobcats added two more runs in the eighth when Kyle Kubitza hit a deep sacrifice fly to center, which not only scored Bret Atwood from third but Tyler Sibley also scored from second.
The Roadrunners (22-25, 13-12 SLC) were led by senior Tyler Carpenter, who recorded two of the team's four singles.
Texas State, which also only managed four hits, plated the game's first mark in the third when Selsor's pickoff attempt went wide and sailed down the right-field line, allowing Christian Gallegos to come home all the way around from first.
UTSA, which stranded seven runners on the night, had its chances throughout the night.
The Birds left a runner 90 feet away from the dish in the third and senior Ryan Hutson was caught between third and home during a rundown in the sixth. UTSA also stranded a pair on base in the final frame.
The series continues at Roadrunner Field at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
