MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Over the last three innings at the plate, Texas State (45-11) scored eight runs to claim an 8-2 victory over ULM (20-35-1) at Riverwalk Stadium to advance to the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championship.

"We've been in these games all year long," said head coach Steven Trout. "I would love to get up early and stay ahead, but that's just not the way we like to do things, I guess."
 
Wesley Faison hit two singles that plated three runs. Dalton Shuffield was the only other Bobcat to record multiple hits with three while scoring twice and driving in two runs. Also finishing with two RBI was Justin Thompson.
 
On the mound, Tristan Stivors (7-1) picked up the win after striking out four in three scoreless innings. Cam Barlow (2-7) surrendered three runs on four hits in five innings to take the loss.
 
Zeke Wood struck out nine in five innings of work while giving up two runs on three hits. Finishing the game with two strikeouts in a scoreless frame was Jonathan Martinez.
 
The Warhawks struck first in the second with a two-run homer from Michelle Artzberger.
 
Cameron Gibbons started the bottom of the sixth with a hot shot back up the middle, After Isaiah Ortega-Jones reached on a fielding error by the pitcher on a bunt, Shuffield laced a single the opposite way to load the bases.
 
ULM made a pitching change and the second pitch from Tylor Jans bounced away from the catcher to allow Gibbons to score. Thompson followed with a deep fly to center that plated the tying run. A 1-2 offering to Faison was hit back up the middle to bring home Shuffield and put the Bobcats in the lead 3-2.
 

Wild pitch to get on the scoreboard!#EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/pULFqdrhpV

— #11 Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) May 28, 2022

In front as @wesley_faison singles back up the middle to plate @Dalton_Eugene8!#EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/BreUU53BwD

— #11 Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) May 28, 2022

 
"We always talk about being where our feet are and attacking it one pitch at a time," Faison said. "There wasn't a lot of panic going on early in the game even though we were struggling at the plate, we knew if we just stayed to our approach that our offense was going to come. Finally when the big three-spot did hit, it was like there was a little bit of relief."

A hit by pitch and two walks loaded the bases with one gone in the seventh for TXST. Shuffield hit a high chopper to his counterpart but a bad throw allowed the San Antonio native to reach base and score a run. Thompson drew a free pass to bring in a run and Faison laced a two RBI single through the left side to extend the lead to five.
 

A 2 RBI single by @wesley_faison to extend the lead to 5??!#EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/7VcUcFMJpk

— #11 Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) May 28, 2022

 
 Shuffield brought in an insurance run the next frame to make it an 8-2 advantage for Texas State.
 
Next up for the Bobcats is a meeting with No. 4 seed Louisiana on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
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