SAN MARCOS, Texas – Junior third baseman Aaron Lugo had a big game as the plate as he drove in half of Texas State's runs in a 12-6 win over HCU Wednesday night at Bobcat Ballpark.

The Bobcats are now 9-8 on the season and enter Sun Belt Conference play on a two-game winning streak while the Huskies fall to 7-10.

Lugo went 3-for-4 at the plate, scored three runs and hit a double and a grand slam. Both Daylan Pena and Davis Powell had two base knocks apiece. Pena drove in two runs and hit a double while Powell scored once.

Ryne Farber and Chase Mora both scored twice while Mora also drew two walks and stole one base.

Earning the win on the rubber was Peyton Zabel (2-1). The right-hander struck out four in 3.2 innings of relief while giving up just one hit and run. Keevyn Goss (0-1) took the loss after he gave up four runs on four walks and two hits while recording just one out.

Calen Graham made his first start in a TXST uniform and went 3.1 innings with a strikeout and two runs allowed on four hits. Tony Robie worked a perfect inning out of the bullpen with two punch outs and Jonathan Martinez recorded two outs on the mound.

HCU scored their first time at the plate when Samuel Benjamin led off the game with a solo home run. The visitors also pulled off a double steal of second and home in the frame to take an early 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, a single from Powell was bookended by free passes to Farber and Mora to load the bases. Lugo laced a 0-1 offering down the third baseline that plated two to tie the game. A free pass to Cade Manning brought in the third run of the frame and Ethan Farris hit a sacrifice fly to right to put the Bobcats ahead 4-2.

The score would remain the same until the fifth. Lugo and Cameron Thompson started the frame with back-to-back singles and Pena blasted a double to left center that brought both runners home to double the lead. Two more runs would be scored when Ian Collier laid down a bunt for an infield single that brought in a run and Farber followed with a sacrifice fly.

William Jewell got the Huskies back on the scoreboard with a solo homer in the sixth. He would later hit a two-run home run in the eighth and a sacrifice fly in the inning cut Texas State's advantage to 8-6.

The Bobcats were able to load the bases in the next half inning with one out. Lugo sent the first pitch to him down the left field line for his team-leading sixth homer that put the game away.

Next up for TXST is the first conference series of the year when App State comes to town. The series begins on Friday at 6 p.m. from Bobcat Ballpark.