SAN MARCOS, Texas – Home runs by Jaylen Hubbard and Dalton Shuffield helped the Texas State baseball team defeat Incarnate Word 7-4 Wednesday night at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
With the win, the Bobcats improved to 9-4 on the season while the Cardinals drop to 8-5 overall.
 
Picking up the victory on the mound was Dontae Woodard (1-0). The freshman left-hander earned his first collegiate victory after throwing 2.0 scoreless innings with two strikeouts while giving up just one hit. Suffering the loss was Johnny Foral (0-1) after he allowed the two runs and recording just one out.
 
Hubbard led all players with three hits as he recorded two singles and his first homer of the season. The senior third baseman also scored two runs and had one RBI. Both Cole Coffey and Skyler Valentine finished with two base hits and one RBI.
 
Shuffield drove in three runs while Will Hollis came around two score twice after going 1-for-2 with two walks.
 
Alex Klitsas made his first career start and went 3.0 innings. He set a new career-high with six strikeouts include four straight at one point. The sophomore right-hander did allow three runs on two hits and walks.
 
Pitching a scoreless inning of relief apiece were Brent Hebert, Zachary Leigh and Anthony Pagano. Leigh recorded all three of his outs by strikeout. Matthew Nicholas also made his collegiate debut on the night and faced two batters.
 
TXST broke a scoreless game in the third that began with back-to-back singles by Jaxon Williams and Hubbard. Hollis then reached on a fielder's choice that saw Hubbard get thrown out at second to put runners on the corners. Two batters late, Coffey sent a 3-2 pitch to center field for a RBI single. Hollis then scored on a wild pitch to put the Bobcats up 2-0.
 
In the next half inning, Taylor Smith singled through the left side to bring home a run. After a sacrifice bunt, Lee Thomas ripped a single through the right side to drive in two runs and put UIW in front 3-2.
 
Hubbard sent a 1-0 offering back up the middle with one out in the bottom half of the fifth. Following a pitching change, Hollis was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. Facing a 0-2 count, Valentine smacked a double into the left center gap that tied the game.
 
The Cardinals made their second pitching change of the inning prior with Shuffield due to hit. The sophomore shortstop made them pay by whacking a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence just on the right side of the fair pole to put TXST in front 6-3.
 
Neither team would score again until the bottom of the eight. Hubbard led off and blasted the fourth pitch he saw over the left center field wall to increase for an insurance run.
 
UIW scored a run in the top of the ninth when Ryan Flores hit a ball that fell inside fair territory down the left field line for a RBI double and place two runners in scoring position. Hunter McMahon was able to induce a ground ball to Williams at second for the final out of the game.
 
TXST continues its homestand this weekend with a three-game series against UConn. Friday's series opener is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
 
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