SAN ANTONIO — Texas State blasted a grand slam in the top of the ninth to hand UTSA an 11-8 setback on Tuesday night at Roadrunner Field.
The win for rival Texas State snapped an eight game losing skid and evened the 2017 home-and-home series.
UTSA (22-21) led Texas State early after plating four runs in the bottom of the first. The Roadrunners' lead held throughout the night as UTSA tacked on runs in the third and seventh innings to own an 8-5 advantage over the visiting Bobcats.
Two two-RBI singles accounted for the four runs in the opening stanza and was followed with a two-run home run by C.J. Pickering in the third. In the seventh, a wild pitch and throwing error scored both runs for UTSA.
All nine Texas State batters stepped up to the plate in the top of the ninth as the Bobcats scored its six runs on two hits. Right-hander Karan Patel started off the inning and issued three walks and scattered one hit, which scored the first run of the inning on a bases loaded walk. Patel was responsible for two of the runners and was charged with the loss after Cade Bullinger gave up a grand slam to put Texas State ahead, 11-8.
The Roadrunners were unable to rally back in the bottom of the ninth after Bryan Arias led off with a stand-up double.
Both teams registered 11 hits on the night with Texas State committing one defensive miscue.
All but one UTSA starter registered a hit with Ben Brookover, Pickering and Mason George notching a pair of hits. Brookover added three runs and a pair of doubles on the night.
UTSA will return to Conference USA play this weekend when it hosts Middle Tennessee for a three-game series that will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday.
