SAN MARCOS, Texas (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth affair defined by late-inning drama and defensive miscues, the Texas State Bobcats walked off with an 8-7 victory over the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros on Tuesday night at Bobcat Ballpark.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the final two innings, a chaotic sequence that saw the Vaqueros rally for three unearned runs in the top of the ninth, only for the Bobcats to answer with an unearned run of their own in the bottom half to steal the win.

Trailing 7-5 entering the ninth, UTRGV capitalized on a critical Texas State error. With two outs and pinch-runner Austin Stracener on third, Armani Raygoza lifted a sacrifice fly to left-center to tie the game. The rally continued when Julius Ramirez delivered an RBI single, and Easton Moomau followed with another run-scoring single, giving the Vaqueros a 10-7 lead. All three runs were unearned, stemming from a two-out fielding error by left fielder Jackson Cotton.

The Bobcats, however, refused to fold in the bottom of the ninth. Clayton Namken reached first on a throwing error by the Vaqueros’ third baseman to lead off the inning. Pinch-runner Austin Munguia stole second and advanced to third on a strikeout. With two outs, Brady Boles hit a sharp grounder to shortstop, scoring Munguia to end the game.

The contest began as a pitcher’s duel, with UTRGV starter Robert Bonilla dominating early. Over four innings, Bonilla allowed no hits and struck out six, though two runs scored after he exited. The Vaqueros built a 5-0 lead through three and a half innings, scoring on an RBI single by Raygoza in the first, an RBI double by Rudy Gonzalez in the second, and an unearned run in the third on a catcher’s throwing error.

Texas State broke through in the fourth against the Vaqueros’ bullpen. Dawson Park launched a solo home run, and Ethan Farris added an RBI double. The Bobcats then erupted for three runs in the fifth, keyed by a two-run double from Rashawn Galloway, to tie the game at 5.

UTRGV reclaimed the lead in the sixth on a solo home run by Diego Villescas, his second extra-base hit of the night. Texas State answered immediately in the seventh when Jackson Cotton connected for a two-run homer, tying the game again at 7.

The game featured several standout pitching performances beyond Bonilla’s start. UTRGV reliever Wyatt Wiatrek struck out all three batters he faced in a perfect eighth inning. Texas State’s Cade Smith provided 2 2/3 innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits, and Alizaeh Gutierrez pitched a scoreless inning.

Both teams finished with eight hits. Raygoza led UTRGV, going 2 for 2 with two RBIs and a walk. Galloway and Cotton each drove in two runs for Texas State.

With the win, Texas State improved to 16-8 on the season. UTRGV fell to 13-12. The Bobcats next travel to face Georgia State for a three-game series starting Friday. The Vaqueros will host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for a three-game set beginning Friday.