To take a critical series, the Texas State Bobcats hit seven home runs in a dominating 12-9 win over the Marshall Thundering Herd Friday evening at Irvine-Rasmussen Ballpark.
To open up the ballgame, junior designated hitter Manny Salas hit a home run to take the Bobcats (33-22, 15-14 SBC) to an early 1-0 lead.
After a scoreless inning for both teams, the Thundering Herd (23-30, 13-16 SBC) took the lead over the Bobcats in the top of the third after taking advantage of pitching issues from freshman starting pitcher Wade Cooper. A single from graduate student outfielder Jackson Halter allowed redshirt junior infielder Tyler Kamerer and junior outfielder Evan Bottone to score.
With the bases loaded later in the inning, graduate student designated hitter Ethan Murdoch was walked allowing Halter to score. A sacrifice fly from redshirt sophomore infielder Mason Onate gave junior infielder AJ Havrilla the chance to score before ending the top of the third.
Salas responded as he stepped up to his second at bat of the night hitting another home run, giving Texas State their 100th home run of the season.
Further living up to the “Slam Marcos” name, junior first basemen Jaquae Stewart and freshman catcher Clayton Namken hit back-to-back home runs following Salas’, tying up the ballgame against the Thundering Herd.
The Bobcats took back the lead in the fourth with a single from Stewart allowing senior outfielder Rashawn Galloway to score. Stewart and junior outfielder Bennett Fryman later scored to take a 7-4 lead going into the fifth.
Starting off the sixth inning, Murdoch hit a home run to tighten the Texas State lead. With sophomore catcher Jackson Golden and graduate student infielder Cleary Simpson both on base, Bottone hit a home run to take the Thundering Herd to a one run lead.
The Bobcats took back the lead with a home run from senior third basemen Chase Mora, allowing Namken to also score.
After Marshall tied up the game in the top of the seventh, Salas fired his third home run of the night to bring the lead back to the maroon and gold. Namken later hit his second home run of the evening allowing Stewart to also score, giving the Bobcats a three-run lead.
The Thundering Herd was unable to come back in the final innings, leaving the Bobcats to take a crucial series win with SBC standings preparing to be finalized.
Texas State will play their final game of the regular season Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
