SAN MARCOS, Texas – Sophomores Ryder Hernandez and Daylan Pena both hit three-run home runs Tuesday night at Bobcat Ballpark in Texas State's (30-16) 10-5 victory over Incarnate Word (24-21). The victory was also the Bobcats' 20th at home, marking the 13th such campaign in team history.
 
Nathan Medrano (2-2) came out of the bullpen and threw four hitless innings with two strikeouts to pick up the win. On the other side, EJ Garcia (0-3) surrendered three runs on two hits and did not record an out in a relief appearance.
 
Starting on the rubber for TXST was Peyton Zabel. The right-hander struck out two in three innings but gave up four runs on eight hits. Both Cameron Bush and Jonathan Martinez tosses an inning out of the bullpen.
 
Chase Mora went 4-for-5 the plate with two doubles, two runs and one RBI. Pena drove in a four runs and Hernandez plated three. Both also had two base knocks with a double and scored twice. Also finishing with two hits on the evening was Cade Manning.
 
A Texas State fielding error followed by an Alec Carr triple put the Cardinals on the scoreboard in the first. They would take on a second run in the frame on a sacrifice fly to lead 2-0.
 
Back-to-back singles from Mora and Jose Gonzalez put runners on the corners in the next half inning. The first pitch that Pena saw was hit to centerfield for a sacrifice fly that cut the deficit in half.
 
UIW added to its lead with three consecutive singles in the third to go up 3-1.
 
Ben McClain started the bottom of the third by drawing a walk on four pitches. Mora followed by lacing a double down the left field line to put two in scoring position. Two batters later, Pena crushed a 3-1 offering over the left field wall for his eight homer of the season and put the Bobcats in the lead.
 

OUT OF HERE!!! Pena with a 3-run blast to put us in front!#EatEmUp #SlamMarcos x @daylan_pena13 pic.twitter.com/bDCAWx5ANw

— Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) May 3, 2023

 
Back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Cardinals in the fourth. After an infield fly, Carr hit a 0-2 pitch off the end of his bat that saw August Ramirez field the ball. The junior dove back to try and tag James Richey but was slightly late that allowed the visitors to tie the game. A lineout double play ended UIW's threat without any more damage being done.
 

M4 | Cardinals tie the game but inning ends on a double play lineout to Mora.

TXST 4
UIW 4#EatEmUp #SlamMarcos x @chasemora11 @ryderh4 pic.twitter.com/ckzRMGU3bx

— Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) May 3, 2023

 
Ryan Leary reached base on a throwing error and Manning then singled to center field to start off the bottom of the frame. Hernandez sent the first pitch to him to left center for his fifth long ball of the season and gave the Bobcats the lead for good.
 

TOUCH 'EM ALL!!! Hernandez with a 3-run ??!#EatEmUp #SlamMarcos x @ryderh4 pic.twitter.com/h8BSU6R0NV

— Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) May 3, 2023

 
Texas State extended its advantage with a run in the sixth on a Mora double. Rashawn Galloway plated a run on a single that extended his hitting streak to eight games in the next inning. Gonzalez capped off the Bobcats' scoring in the eight with a groundout that brought home Kameron Weil.
 

Mora with an RBI double and McClain gets out of a pickle!#EatEmUp #SlamMarcos x @chasemora11 @bmicheal37 pic.twitter.com/Cuiv5woNPo

— Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) May 3, 2023

 
UIW would score a run in the ninth after a bad throw on a grounder.
 
Next up for the Bobcats is a three-game series against Georgia State that begins on Friday at 6 p.m. from Bobcat Ballpark.
 
For all things Texas State baseball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
  Read Full Article