BOONE, N.C. – Five runs were scored by No. 9 Texas State (23-6, 8-1 Sun Belt) over the seventh and eighth innings to pull away for a 7-2 victory over Appalachian State (10-16, 3-6 Sun Belt) Sunday at Smith Stadium. It is the second sweep of a Sun Belt Conference opponent and fourth of the season for the Bobcats.
 
Earning the win was Triston Dixon (4-0). The right-hander threw four scoreless innings out of the bullpen with six strikeouts. Trey Tujetsch (2-1) suffered the loss after giving up two runs on five hits in six innings while striking out six.
 
Cameron Bush got the start and struck out two in three innings with a run allowed. Both Jonathan Martinez and Austin Smith pitched an inning of relief.
 
Ben McClain drove in three runs and hit his fourth home run of the season. Justin Thompson went 2-for-4 with two RBI and his third homer. Also finishing with two bases knocks was Daylan Pena and John Wuthrich while Isaiah Ortega-Jones scored twice.
 
The Bobcats struck first in the second when Ortega-Jones was walked on four pitches with the bases loaded. McClain appeared to begin home another run on a sacrifice fly but the umpire ruled the runner allegedly left the base early to end the threat.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, a single to center off the bat of the Mountaineers' Luke Drumheller tied the game 1-1.
 
Ortega-Jones led off the fifth with a double. He moved within 90 feet of home on a groundout. Two batters later, Thompson doubled to left center to put the Bobcats ahead by a run.
 
After Ortega-Jones reached on a fielding error, McClain went the opposite way for a two-run home run. Thompson added to the total with a solo shot to left field to put TXST up 5-1 after the top of the seventh.
 
The first pitch of the eighth saw Ryan Leary get plunked. Cameron Gibbons and Ortega-Jones both laid down sacrifice bunts and reached base due to fielding errors to load the bases. McClain got on base via a fielder's choice that also plated a run. Wuthrich hit a deep fly to right that brought home another run to increase the Bobcats' advantage to six runs.
 
Next up for the Bobcats is a trip to College Station to take on Texas A&M. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and the game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
 
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