The Youngstown State baseball team dropped a 6-1 decision at Texas State on Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Ballpark in San Marcos, Texas.
The Penguins jumped in front 1-0 in the top of the fifth before the Bobcats answered with six runs in the home half of the inning in route to their second consecutive victory.
YSU falls to 0-2 on the 2024 season while Texas State improves to 2-0.
Freshman outfielder Alejandro Covas went 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of singles and a walk in his collegiate debut while Trey Law singled and drove in a run. RJ Sherwood singled in his only plate appearance and transfer Brett Stanely doubled for his first hit as a Penguin.
YSU starter Sloan Ulrich was responsible for three runs on one hit and five walks with two strikeouts over 4.2 innings in a losing effort in his first appearance for the Guins. The only hit the sophomore left-hander surrendered was a leadoff single in the first inning as he blanked the Bobcats over the first four frames. Nick Perez allowed three runs on three hits in relief before Nolan Kubilus came on to toss three scoreless innings in his first outing in a Penguin uniform. Kubilus retired the side in order in both the sixth and eighth innings.
The Penguins struck first with a single run in the top of the fifth inning. Derrick Tarpley Jr. reached on an error, advanced to second on a balk and alertly raced home when Law grounded into a fielder's choice to give YSU a 1-0 lead. In the ensuing at bat, Stanley doubled to right center, but Law was thrown out trying to score from first to end the inning.
The Bobcats responded immediately with six runs in the home half of the fifth to grab a 6-1 lead. Cade Manning and Alex Gonzales drew back-to-back one-out walks, and both runners advanced 90 feet on a groundout. After a wild pitch kicked away from YSU catcher Trey Pancake, Manning and Gonzales were both able to score on the play to give Texas State its first lead of the game. Alec Patino delivered a two-out, three-run double to right field later in the frame to give the Bobcats a four-run advantage. Chase Mora added a two-out RBI infield single to produce the final margin.
Texas State starter Jack Stroud earned the victory after allowing one unearned run on four hits with three strikeouts over five innings. Three Bobcat relievers combined to throw four scoreless innings of relief.
The Penguins and Bobcats will conclude their three-game series on opening weekend on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon ET, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
