SAN MARCOS, Texas – HCU baseball fell just short in a tightly-contested 4-3 loss to Texas State on Tuesday evening at Irvine-Rasmussen Ballpark in a non-conference matchup.
HCU (16-20) jumped out to a 2-0 lead just three batters into the game when
Jeremy Rader blasted a two-run home run to left field for a 2-0 lead, driving in
Rhett Hendricks who walked a hitter before. The Bobcats (25-12) answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning, taking advantage of a leadoff walk and a one-out double to cut the HCU lead down to 2-1.
In the second, Texas State took a 3-2 lead on a Chase Mora home run with one out. The Huskies loaded the bases in the fifth on a pair of walks and a hit batter with one out but a double play ended the inning with no runs scored.
HCU tied the score in the top of the seventh with two outs on a ball lofted down the right field line off the bat of
Preston Curtis that fell in just inside the right field foul line as
Graham Laxton raced around to score from first base. The Bobcats wasted no time regaining the lead with Tanner Carson hitting a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the seventh and push it to 4-3.
Both teams finished the night with five hits with the Huskies stranding four baserunners while Texas State left seven on base. Five different Huskies had one hit each with Rader's home run his first of the year, driving in two.
Eight different pitchers toed the rubber for HCU, pitching one inning a piece.
Kenan Elarton took the loss for the Huskies, giving up one run on one hit in the seventh. As a group, the Huskies' pitchers struck out nine and walked five.
HCU will host New Orleans in Southland Conference play this weekend for a three-game set from Friday through Sunday at Husky Field. Friday's game is set for 6:30 p.m. followed by 2:00 p.m. starts on both Saturday and Sunday.
