By: Kyle Owen
Texas State Baseball went 1-2 this past weekend in the Karbach Round Rock Classic with losses coming at the helm of the Kansas Jayhawks (4-7) on Friday, February 23, and the Kentucky Wildcats (5-11) on Saturday, February 24, at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas.
The Bobcat’s lone win of the weekend came on Sunday, February 25, against the Washington State Cougars by a score of 13-4. The combined score on the weekend for the Bobcats was 22 runs against and 23 runs for, making for a positive run differential in the tournament.
The Texas State Baseball team leaning against the home dugout at Bobcat Ballpark, By: Kyle Owen
Friday (2/23): Kansas
To start the weekend, the Bobcats were determined as the away team to the Kansas Jayhawks as the junior transfer, right-handed pitcher, Austin Eaton started on the mound.
Eaton struggled in the first inning after the Bobcat bats were unable to plate a run, giving up four runs to the Jayhawks in the bottom half of the inning.
It wouldn’t be until the top of the third inning that the Bobcats responded with a two-spot off runs from senior outfielder Cade Manning and freshman infielder Ryne Farber. In the bottom half of the inning, the Jayhawks responded with a run of their own and once more in the bottom half of the next (4th inning) tallying the score to 6-2 in favor of Kansas.
Both squads would be blanked in the fifth. In the sixth inning of play senior catcher August (Auggie) Ramirez sent a ball over the right-field wall, bringing the Bobcats within three runs. In the seventh, Kansas added another run.
The Bobcats would be able to add one more to their tally, totaling four in the evening, with a home run from senior Alec Patino.
The maroon and gold fell, 7-4, to the Jayhawks on the first night of the Karbach Round Rock Classic.
Left-handed pitcher Jack Stroud throwing to an opposing batter, By: Kyle Owen
Saturday (2/24): Kentucky
The second matchup for Texas State in the tournament at the Dell Diamond would end up being another struggle on the mound for starting left-handed pitcher Jack Stroud as the mustache wouldn’t be enough against the Wildcats of Kentucky, giving up seven runs on five hits in his one and two-thirds innings pitched.
Ultimately, the Bobcats would fall 11-5 with a single run scored in each of the second (A. Ramirez home run) and ninth (Cameron Thompson) innings and a three-spot in the fourth inning of play.
The loss would bring Texas State to 0-2 on the weekend with a game remaining against the Cougars of Washington State who were undefeated on the weekend at this point.
Right-handed pitcher Peyton Zabel in the stretch, By: Kyle Owen
Sunday (2/25): Washington State
Sunday would not be different for the starting pitcher for Texas State regarding struggle as right-handed pitcher Peyton Zabel allowed three runs on two hits in his lone inning pitched.
In the top second inning, senior right-handed pitcher, Drayton Brown would come in and throw three and a third innings of scoreless baseball, holding the Cougars and allowing the Bobcats to begin their comeback.
The first run in the Sunday afternoon matchup for the Bobcats came in the bottom of the third, plated by senior infielder Alex Gonzales.
Washington State would bring around another run in the top of the sixth inning, bringing the score to 4-1. The Cougar lead would not last long as the Bobcat’s bats exploded in the bottom half of the sixth.
The ‘Cats would bring around nine (yes, nine) runs in the bottom of the sixth, just as many runs as they’d brought around in the first two matchups the maroon and gold played in the Karbach Classic.
Ryne Farber, Rashawn Galloway, Auggie Ramirez, Cameron Thompson, Chase Mora, Alex Gonzales, Davis Powell, and Chris Bernal would all plate a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, taking a 10-4 advantage over the Cougars.
Texas State extended its lead in the next inning with three more runs from Alex Gonzales, Davis Powel, and Cris Bernal, tallying 13 total runs on the evening.
The Bobcat bullpen held Washington State to just one more run, as they’ve been able to do consistently for the ‘Cats in the young season.
The Dell Diamond under the lights on Sunday, Feb 25, 2024, By: Kyle Owen
Texas State players Ryne Farber (Center Field) and August Ramirez (Designated Hitter) earned all-tournament team honors as they went 1-2 on the weekend.
Washington State would be deemed the champions despite falling to the Bobcats on Sunday.
Next up for the ‘Cats are the Prairie View A&M Panthers on Tuesday, February 27, before heading to Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas to face off against the Houston Cougars, No. 15 Texas Longhorns, and No. 3 LSU Tigers this weekend in the Astros Foundation College Classic.
