SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State baseball team put on a dominating performance Friday night to open the 2023 season with a 12-4 victory over Northwestern. The Bobcats did so in front of an electric crowd of 2,049, the seventh largest in program history on Opening Day.
 
"Anytime you win on opening night it's a good night. Levi Wells was really good. We wanted five out of him and that's what he gave us with nine strikeouts," said head coach Steven Trout. "Offensively, there were a lot of good swings in there and we took advantage of mistakes. Thought we had a lot of good at-bats and did a little bit over everything tonight. Overall, it was a great win and am excited to wake up tomorrow and do it again."
 
Levi Wells (1-0) threw five shutout innings with nine strikeouts while only allowing two hits and walking three to earn the win. Working two scoreless frames out of the pen was Austin Smith, who struck out two.
 
TXST was led offensively by Ryan Leary as he went 2-for-4 with a home run, triple, three RBI and three runs scored. Daylan Pena also brought home three runs after hitting three sacrifice flies.
 
Davis Powell finished his first game in a Bobcat uniform going 2-for-5 with three runs and two RBI. Jose Gonzalez plated two runs while Peyton Lewis and Ben McClain both came around to score twice.
 
The Wildcats' Tony Livermore leadoff the game by hitting a liner towards the hole but Leary made a Sportscenter Top 10-esque diving catch.

What a catch!#EatEmUp #SCTop10 x @RyanLeary16 pic.twitter.com/eIR6TijFxJ

— Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) February 18, 2023

 
In the second, Ryder Hernandez sent the first pitch he saw back up the middle for a single and his first collegiate hit. Leary followed by sending a 1-0 offering just over the left field wall for a two-run homer. The runs would continue as the Bobcats plated one in the third and two more in the fourth and sixth.

OUT OF HERE!!!#EatEmUp #SlamMarcos x @RyanLeary16 pic.twitter.com/Hu4vtPlKtd

— Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) February 18, 2023

 
Nine Texas State batters went to the plate in the seventh with five coming around to score. The big hits in the frame were Leary's triple off the centerfield wall and Powell doubling down the right field line that each plated a run.
 
Northwestern would conclude the scoring with three runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth. The visitors did have the bases loaded in the final frame with two outs, but Otto Wofford came on and got Alex Roessner looking to end the game.
 
The series continues Saturday with a 2:30 p.m. first pitch at Bobcat Ballpark.
 
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