Final Stats

By Paul Watley | @WatP7

SAN MARCOS, Texas - In a tightly contested game between a pair of in-state rivals, UT Arlington came out on the wrong end of a 4-1 decision against Texas State at Bobcat Ballpark on Friday night.

The Mavericks (23-29, 14-15 Sun Belt) jumped out to an early lead in the opening frame with an RBI ground out by Jackson Morris, but the Bobcats proved to be too much for UTA. Morris' RBI ground out was set up by Matt McLean and Travis Sibley who opened up the game with back-to-back singles.

"That was a good baseball game, but we just didn't come out on top," UT Arlington coach Darin Thomas said. "We scored in the first, but give [Texas State starter] Scott Grist credit. He pitched a complete game and beat us. One pitch got us with their three-run homer, but we had opportunities to score and we didn't hit guys in and got a little frustrated at the plate."

UTA registered five hits on the night, with no player recording a multi-hit outing. Texas State brought in its four runs off of seven hits, while committing a pair of errors. The Mavericks also struggled to capitalize on their hits as they were 1-for-14 on the night with runners on base.

UTA starter Joel Kuhnel was able to get out to a fast start as he laid down nine of the first 10 batters he faced, but five hits and four runs over a span of two innings ended the sophomore's day heading into the seventh. Kuhnel allowed six hits and four earned runs on the day, while striking out five and walking just one.

Jacob Moreland recorded a solid performance in relief, allowing one hit and no earned runs in his two innings of action. The Keller native also struck out a pair of Bobcat batters in his 33-pitch outing.

The Mavs looked to rally late as Morris reached base on a walk with one out, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the game with Morris stranded on second.

UTA sits in sixth place in the Sun Belt heading into the series finale and can clinch that spot with a victory over Texas State. The Mavs secured their spot in the postseason on Thursday night and can finish as high as sixth and as low as eighth.

The Mavericks will return to action on Saturday in a rubber match against the Bobcats set for 1 p.m.