Texas State’s Jackson Cotton, other freshmen star in UTSA win

SAN MARCOS — Texas State baseball hosted some of the hottest bats in the country Tuesday night when UTSA arrived for a midweek game. The Roadrunners had scored more than 10 runs in six of seven games and were coming off a three-game sweep of Dallas Baptist University.

The Roadrunners’ momentum came to a screeching halt as the Bobcats won 7-2 behind a bullpen that stopped opposing batters from doing any meaningful damage. UTSA, which made a super regional run last year, recorded seven hits on two runs. Texas State scored seven runs on 11 hits. 

RECAP: Bobcats hand Roadrunners 1st loss of the season

Bobcats’ starting pitcher Sam Hall, who’s on a pitch count as he recovers from injury, bounced back from a rough start against Baylor for four strikeouts and no runs through two innings pitched. Texas State will travel Friday to Cleburne for the College Baseball Series beginning against Abilene Christian.

Here are some takeaways from Texas State’s win:

Head coach Steven Trout spoke glowingly of the Bobcats’ freshman class before the season, and its pedigree was on full display against the Roadrunners. The three first-year starters in the batting lineup — Jackson Cotton, Tanner Carson and Clayton Namken — recorded seven of the Bobcats’ 11 hits and four runs batted in.

On the mound, freshman pitchers Titan Targac and Wade Cooper combined for five innings pitched and 10 strikeouts, allowing two runs in the process. 

“You saw in the fall, they just acted differently than most freshmen, and I think they knew they had a chance to go do a lot for us this year,” Trout said.

The group’s talent is glaringly obvious. Cotton leads the team in on-base percentage, and Carson has displayed a knack for patience at the plate. Namken went 4-for-4, showing power on a two-run home run and leadership as a catcher. Namken said that the group is tightly knit, brought together by a culture centered around winning.

“We’re trying to win every game, every pitch, every inning,” Namken said. “And I think the freshman class really fits that mold.”

Baylor did a number on Texas State’s bullpen in the last midweek game. But the arms showed their stuff Tuesday, as Hall, Targac and Cade Smith combined to shut down UTSA’s offense.

One key difference from last week was the amount of walks. The Bobcats issued 12 free passes against the Bears and threw five wild pitches. They only walked one batter against the Roadrunners and had one wild pitch. 

“Fill up the strike zone. That’s been our philosophy,” Trout said. “Four free 90s on the night. It’s a really good recipe for success.

Hall and Targac had a rough go of things in their most recent appearances. However, they both showed resilience in their return to the mound. Even with their success, Trout believes there are other pitchers just waiting for a chance.

“There are still other guys down there that can get that done as well,” Trout said.

Namken’s explosive offensive night overshadows his competency as a catcher. As a former high school quarterback, the position comes naturally to Namken, Trout said.

“You’re a catcher. You’re also an extension of the coaching staff; you’re a leader out there. But, honestly, he’s been in a huddle before,” Trout said.

A part from his maturity, another part of his success is his connection with veteran catcher Austin Munguia. Namken said the two push each other, and that he wouldn’t be the catcher he is today without him. 

And although there is a push and pull between a catcher and a pitcher, Namken has no problem speaking up with his pitcher, even if they happen to be a veteran.

“If I have something to say or that I feel like I should say or do, I think that they’ll trust me on that,” Namken said.