SAN MARCOS, Texas – Coming down to the final pitch, Lamar University (3-3) ran out of gas in the ninth against Texas State University (4-3). The Cardinals fell to the Bobcats 4-3 on Saturday in the second game of the series.
 
The Cardinals struck early again on Saturday, taking a 2-0 lead in the second. Chase Kemp worked through two strikes, two balls, and a foul before rocketing the seventh pitch of the at-bat out of the park. It was Kemp's first career long ball, and the first Big Red homer of the 2020 season. Anthony Quirion followed that up with a single, and Logan Berlof singled Quirion to second with one out. With two outs Avery George singled to left to bring Quirion home, and a popup to center ended the frame. Starter Zach Bravo struck out three looking to strand two Bobcats, and after two innings LU led 2-0.
 
Texas State chipped away in the third inning. A one-out triple came home on a sac fly, but Bravo used three popups to stem the tide. After three Lamar led 2-1.
 
Small ball let Texas State tie the game in the fourth. A one-out bunt single reached second on an error, and a liner to center put that Bobcat on third. A single through the left side scored the runner, and another single and a wild pitch put two more in scoring position. Bravo reached deep and got his fourth looking strikeout of the day to strand two, and after four innings the game was tied 2-2.
 
A home run gave Texas State its first lead of the series in the fifth inning. On the second pitch of his at-bat TSU's Will Hollis got his third of five hits on the day, a solo homer that caught the wind and barely made it over the left field fence. Bravo got three groundouts and ended the inning, but Texas State led by one run, 3-2, after five innings.
 
Kemp drew a walk with two outs in the top of the sixth but was caught stealing, and in the bottom of the frame Max Mize took the mound in relief of Bravo, who went five innings with four strikeouts, a walk, and eight hits. He allowed three runs – two earned. Mize allowed one hit that reached second on a stolen base, but he struck out the final batter of the inning looking. Through six Texas State held a 3-2 lead.
 
Clutch at-bats finally got Lamar back on the board in the seventh inning. With two outs Kelby Weyler kept his hit streak alive, doubling to left center field on an 1-2 count. He came home on a 3-1 single by Avery George to left. George stole second during Cole Girouard's at-bat, but was stranded on a liner to first. The Bobcats got two singles with one out, but Mize stranded both with a strikeout and a 1-3 grounder. Through seven the game was tied 3-3.
 
In the eighth Kemp drew his second walk of the day and his seventh of the year, but he was stranded at first on a strikeout. Douglas Palmer relieved Mize to open the bottom half of the inning, and the senior submariner sat the Bobcats down in order. Through eight the game was tied 3-3.
 
Lamar battled in the top of the ninth but couldn't get a runner on, and in the final frame Texas State escaped with a win. A lead-off walk reached second on a one-out single by Hollis, and another single to center brought home the walk-off winner. Texas State took a 4-3 decision over Lamar.
 
The series finale starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday with Austin Faith (0-0, 3.60 ERA) facing Wes Engle (0-0, 0.00 ERA).