MONROE, La. – ULM's ninth-inning rally fell one run short as No. 15 Texas State held on for a 5-4 win to sweep the series Sunday afternoon at Warhawk Field.
 
Trailing 5-2 entering the ninth inning, ULM (15-30-1 overall, 6-17-1 Sun Belt Conference) pulled within a run when Michelle Artzberger hit a two-out, two-RBI single to right field, scoring Grant Schulz and Austin Beech to pull within a run, 5-4. After Trace Henry walked to put the potential game-tying run on second base in pinch runner Cole Stromboe, a ground out by pinch hitter Carson Jones brought an end to the game.
 
Texas State (38-11, 20-4) struck first in the top of the second inning as John Wuthrich singled to left field to score Justin Thompson for the 1-0 lead. With two outs in the inning, Cameron Gibbons singled to left field, but Ryan Cupit threw out Wesley Faison at home plate to bring an end to the inning.
 
The Warhawks loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the fifth and pushed across the game-tying run on Grant Schulz's RBI infield single. However, ULM left the bases loaded and the game remained tied at 1.
 
Texas State went on top for good in the top of the seventh inning. The Bobcats picked up a two-out rally, as Jose Gonzalez, Thompson and Daylan Pena drew three consecutive walks. Faison then picked up a two-RBI double to left, scoring Gonzalez and Thompson. A wild pitch allowed Pena to score as Texas State moved ahead, 4-1.
 
ULM answered in the bottom of the seventh as Mason Holt hit his 12th home run of the season, cutting the gap to 4-2.
 
The Bobcats added the run back in the top of the eighth as Gonzalez had a two-out RBI single to score Gibbons, setting up the final inning.
 
Austin Smith (2-0) earned the win for Texas State on the mound, pitching a scoreless sixth inning. Tristan Stivors collected his 12th save, but needed 84 pitches to navigate the final three innings, allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts and a season-high four walks. Nicholas Judice (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on no hits with one strikeout and three walks.
 
The two starting pitchers took no decisions, as Tony Robie allowed one run on six hits with a season-high eight strikeouts and two hits in five innings for Texas State. Tylor Jans allowed a run on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts in four innings for ULM.
 
Artzberger had two hits and two RBIs for ULM while Schulz also had two hits. Faison had two hits and two RBIs to lead Texas State, while Peyton Lewis and Gibbons also had two hits each.
 
ULM visits Northwestern State at 6 p.m. Tuesday.