SAN MARCOS, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team went to 11 innings for a second straight Tuesday, but this time they were on the losing end of things.  Granger Studdard hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to give Texas State a 4-3 win at Bobcat Ballpark.

The Cardinals (11-20) scored all of their runs in the top of the first inning.  They scored three unearned runs in the inning.  Austin Hoffman (Goodyear, AZ/Millenium HS) and Brance Kahle (Colleyville/Grapevine Faith HS) each had RBI singles in the inning.  The Bobcats answered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning as the first five batters of the game reached base before UIW starting pitcher Kris Looper (Wharton/Wharton HS found his groove.

Looper only allowed three hits through the first six innings of the game after the initial five batters.  The Bobcats were finally able to tie the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Cedric Vallieres hit a solo home run.

The Cardinals loaded the bases in the top of the second inning and sent Texas State starting pitcher Montana Parsons to the showers after just 1.2 innings of work.  The Bobcat bullpen took over after that and they held the Cardinals scoreless in 9.1 innings thanks to the pitching of Joe Powell, Pasquale Mazzoccoli and Cory Geisler.  UIW was not able to get a man past second base against any of the relievers.

The Bobcats nearly won the game in the bottom of the ninth when they loaded the bases with two outs against Trevor Hardee (Alvord/Alvord HS), but he was able to get Theodore Hoffman to fly out to center field.  He set the Bobcats down in order in the 10th inning and retired the first batter of the 11th before Studdard won the game with his big blast.  Hardee fell to 2-1 on the season with the loss while Geisler notched the win with 2.2 innings of hitless relief.

Looper tossed 6.2 innings allowing six hits, three runs and four walks while striking out three for the Cardinals.  Jesse Hoover (Marion/Marion HS) and Hoffman each had two hits for UIW and Hoover had the lone extra base hit for the team, a double in the first inning.

The Cardinals are back in action this weekend when they travel to Sam Houston State for a 3-game set starting on Friday at 6:35 p.m.
####
pr15263smm