SAN MARCOS, Texas – All of the Texas State baseball team's runs came in the final three innings in a 5-3 win over Arkansas State Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark. The victory gives the Bobcats (26-13, 11-6 Sun Belt) their first-ever series victory over the Red Wolves (22-18, 8-9 Sun Belt).
 
Nicholas Fraze (6-3) threw a career-high 7.2 innings to earn the victory. The junior right-hander struck out three while giving up three runs on only three hits. Picking up his second save in as many nights was Anthony Pagano after recording the final four outs of the game, including striking out the side in the ninth. Suffering the loss was Zach Jackson (5-3) as he tossed seven innings with five strikeouts but surrendered four runs on six hits.
 
Finishing with two hits apiece to pace TXST was Skyler Valentine and John Wuthrich. Travon Benton drove in two runs and Valentine had a RBI, as well.
 
All three of ASU's runs and two of its hits came in the fourth inning. Sky-Lar Culver broke the scoreless tie with a two-run home run off the lower portion of the scoreboard in right center field. Two batters late, Alex Howard sent a 0-2 offering that just got over the left field wall and Benton's glove for a solo homer.
 
In the sixth, Jaxon Williams reached on a fielder's choice and Will Hollis followed with a single back up the middle. Two batters later, Benton doubled down the right field line to plate two runs and cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
Shuffield led off the seventh with a double off the left center field wall and scored when Valentine doubled down the left field line. A ground out to first base moved Valentine into scoring position and he would go on to score on a wild pitch to put the Bobcats in front 4-3.
 
John Wuthirch doubled to left center on the first pitch of the eighth. The sophomore outfielder was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Benton. With the infield in, Shuffield popped up an 0-1 pitch that the second baseman got under the ball but it bounced out of his glove to allow Wuthirch to score an insurance run.
 
Facing the heart of the Red Wolf order in the ninth, Pagano struck all three batters out to close out the win.
 
The Sun Belt Conference series concludes tomorrow at 1 p.m.
 
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