The UTRGV baseball team lost 6-5 against the Texas State Bobcats in a nonconference game Wednesday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg.
Down 6-0 after two innings, the Vaqueros (12-12) started chipping away in the fourth inning by loading the bases with two outs ahead of an RBI groundout by senior Zerek Saenz.
During the fifth, Montclair Cain hit a two-out double, setting up an RBI-single by junior PSJA High alumnus Jacob Sanchez to make the score 6-2.
The Vaqueros put runners on the corners with one out in the seventh. A throwing error brought home graduate student Brandon Pimentel from third to make the score 6-3.
During the eighth, the Vaqueros put runners at first and second with one out. A wild pitched allowed PSJA North alum Damian Rodriguez to score from second and junior Kade York to go first to third. York scored on a Saenz groundout to make the score 6-5.
Pimentel led off the ninth with a double, but Jack Stroud retired the next three hitters for his first save.
The bullpen is a big reason why the Vaqueros had the opportunity to rally, as five relievers combined to pitch six hitless innings, striking out nine.
Kris Massey pitched a career-high three innings of hitless relief, striking out a career-high four.
Junior Zach Tjelmeland struck out the side during a hitless seventh.
Junior Sebastian Mejia pitched a perfect eighth.
Junior and Edinburg Vela alum Nico Rodriguez struck out one in 2/3 of an inning, and senior Alex Verdugo recorded the final out of the ninth via strikeout.
Senior J.C. Ariza (1-3) pitched a 1-2-3 first inning, aided by a diving catch by York in foul territory for the first out of the game.
During the second, however the Bobcats (17-8) loaded the bases with two outs, setting up RBI singles by Ryder Hernandez and Ben McClain, and a grand slam by Davis Powell to make the score 6-0.
Tony Robie (3-0) struck out four in three scoreless innings for the win.
UTRGV hosts Tarleton for a three-game series starting 6:30 p.m. Friday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
Tickets are on sale now at UTRGVTickets.com. Fans unable to attend in person can watch domestically on ESPN+ or internationally via WAC International.