STATESBORO, Ga. – Junior Will Hollis and sophomore John Wuthrich hit back-to-back home runs as part of a seven-run third inning to lead the Texas State baseball team (22-13, 8-6 Sun Belt) to an 8-2 win over Georgia Southern (20-15, 8-6 Sun Belt) Saturday afternoon at J.I. Clements Stadium.
 
Earning the win on the mound was Nicholas Fraze (5-3) after striking out five in 5.2 innings. He also surrendered two runs on five hits and three walks. Taking the loss was Tyler Owens (4-1) after he gave up seven runs on eight hits.
 
Throwing an inning of relief was Kyle Bradford and Brent Hebert. Brandon Lewis went 1.1 innings out of the bullpen as well.
 
Hollis finished 3-for-5 and was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Posting two hits apiece was Travon Benton, Felipe Rodriguez, Dalton Shuffield and Jaxon Williams. Both of Rodriguez's hits were doubles and Newman added another two-bagger as well.
 
Following back-to-back singles by Jaylen Hubbard and Williams with one out in the third, Hollis blasted a 1-2 pitch over the Blue Monster in right field for his second home run of the season. On the very next pitch, Wuthrich smashed the offering off the scoreboard in left field for a solo shot. It is the first time the Bobcats have hit back-to-back homers this season.
 
Skyler Valentine drew a walk on four pitches and two batters later, Shuffield singled to right center to put runners on the corners. The sophomore shortstop then stole his eighth base of the season to put two runners in the corners. The stolen base paid off as Newman hit a long blooper that just fell in fair territory down the right field line for a two-RBI double to extend the lead.
 
A 3-2 pitch was laced down the left field line just past the diving third baseman for a RBI double for Rodriguez as TXST took a 7-0 advantage.
 
The Eagles got runners on the corners in the fourth. They would score a run when Noah Searcy reached on a fielders' choice after hitting a slow dribbler to Shuffield, who's only play was getting the runner at second.
 
Rodriguez led off the top of the sixth with a double to left center. He would move on to third as Hubbard grounded out to first on a check swing trying to protect himself on a high pitch inside. With the infield in, Williams sent a 1-0 offering back up the middle for a RBI single and increase the Bobcats' lead to 8-1.
 
The bottom of the inning saw GS get two in scoring position after back-to-back singles and a wild pitch moving both runners into scoring position. A ground out by Christian Avant to Shuffield brought home a run to return to a six-run advantage for TXST.
 
Hebert finished the game by inducing a 6-4-3 double play after allowing a one-out single.
 
Sunday's series finale start time was moved up to 10 a.m. CT.
 
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