SAN MARCOS, Texas – The ULM baseball team was unable to overcome an early Texas State lead and fell in the series opener to the Bobcats, 12-2, on Friday (May 2) at Bobcat Ballpark in San Marcos, Texas.

The Bobcats (22-24, 10-12 Sun Belt) pounded 12 hits and five extra-base hits and scored 11 runs across the first three innings of play. The Warhawks (21-25, 7-15 Sun Belt) racked up six hits and a trio of extra base hits with home runs off the bat of Isaiah Walker and Bryce Blaser and a double by Michelle Artzberger.
 
Bryce Blaser was hit by a pitch with two outs for ULM's only base runner in the first inning. The Bobcats scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning off ULM starter Zach Shaw to take an early lead. With two outs in the top of the second, Jake Haggard singled through the left side for the Warhawks' first hit of the day. Alan Shibley deposited a home run with a Bobcat on base that pushed the Texas State lead to 4-0. Texas State's Coy DeFury and Samson Pugh increased the Bobcats' lead to 8-0 after RBI base hits. Shibley again registered another extra-base RBI hit with a double that brought the home team's lead to 9-0, and the Bobcats concluded the inning with a 10-0 advantage after a runner scored off a wild pitch. Walker recorded his first hit of the day and stole his 23rd base of the season in the top of the third. After Kade Dupont was hit by a pitch, the two pulled off a double steal before the inning ended with Texas State holding a 10-0 lead. The Bobcats plated a run in the third inning to make it an 11-0 advantage.

Artzberger led off the fourth with a double and extended his hitting streak to 11 games before Texas State turned an inning-ending double play. Austin Ackel pitched a scoreless bottom of the fourth inning and navigated around a leadoff walk. Walker belted his fifth home run of the season on a 3-2 pitch to get the Warhawks on the scoreboard. With two outs in the inning, Blaser followed with ULM's second solo home run of the frame. Henry Garcia Jr. walked and moved to second base on a passed ball, but was left on base to end the inning. Seaver Sheets recorded ULM's second consecutive scoreless inning on the mound. Barham White singled up the middle to start the ULM sixth inning before a double play was ruled on a force play slide rule violation due to interference that cleared the bases. Shilby picked up his third RBI base hit that increased the Bobcats' lead to 10 in the sixth inning. Marcus Aranda was hit by a pitch, but Texas State turned its third double play of the afternoon for the first and second outs of the seventh. The Bobcats induced a groundout and secured the series opener, 12-2, in seven innings.

The Warhawks will play game two of the weekend series in San Marcos on Saturday (May 3) at 2:30 p.m. from Bobcat Ballpark on ESPN+.