SAN MARCOS, TEXAS – A three-run homer by Jonathan Ortega in the eighth inning and a complete game shutout by Lucas Humpal propelled Texas State to a 4-0 win over the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team at Bobcat Ballpark Friday night.

The Bobcats' (6-4) Humpal was lights out on Friday holding the Cardinals (3-7) to three hits and no walks while striking out 11. He also kept UIW on the ground as he collected 13 outs via the groundball.

UIW freshman Bernie Martinez (Laredo/United HS) did a good job with his third start of the year. He cruised into the seventh inning trailing only 1-0, but would then give up a single, double and homer in three straight at bats to make it 4-0. He was tagged with the loss despite only allowing six hits in 7.0 innings of work.  He walked one and struck out five. Trevor Hardee (Alvord/Alvord HS) came in to throw the eighth inning and retired the side, including a strikeout.

Texas State scored an early run in the second inning on an RBI single by Nick Perez and then the three in the seventh were enough. The Cardinals got runners on first and second in the fourth inning after Brance Kahle (Colleyville/Grapevine Faith HS) reached base on an error and Tanner Wall (San Antonio/Johnson HS) singled. Humpal would escape the trouble with a strikeout.

Wall was the only Cardinal to reach base twice, finishing the evening 2-for-3 and Robert Lopez collected the other hit.

The Cardinals and Bobcats will play game two of the series tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium.
####
pr16157smm