SAN MARCOS, Texas – Junior Daylan Pena hit a home run in three consecutive at-bats, including two in one inning, as Texas State (11-8, 2-0 Sun Belt) run-ruled App State (11-6, 0-2 Sun Belt) 17-7 in seven innings Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Ballpark. The victory clinched the conference opening series for the Bobcats.

It was Pena's first career multi-homer game and he now has 22 in his Bobcat career. He is now tied for 13th on the program's career list with Luke Cannon (2005-06) and Theodore Hoffman (2015-17). Pena also set a career-high with six RBI.

Also finishing with three base knocks was Rashawn Galloway and Chase Mora. Galloway fell a home run shy of hitting for the cycle while scoring three runs. Mora finished the game with a double, one RBI and scored twice.

Both Ryne Farber and Davis Powell drove in three runs each while Ethan Farris added two RBI.

Picking up the win on the mound was Tony Robie (2-1) as he worked 2.1 innings out of the bullpen with two strikeouts. Jackson Steensma (2-1) took the loss after giving up eight runs on eight hits and two walks in two frames.

Drayton Brown started for TXST but went just two innings. He surrendered four runs on four hits but did strikeout three. Cameron Bush tossed two frames with one punch out and Otto Wofford retired the lone batter he faced via strikeout.

The Mountaineers got the scoring started in the first with two runs after a popup in the infield wasn't caught with two outs. Back-to-back solo homers by Austin St. Laurent and Xavier Moronta put the visitors ahead 4-0 heading to the bottom of the second.

Pena jumped started the Bobcats' offense as he led off the second wit a solo home run. Following back-to-back singles from August Ramirez and Galloway, Farris laced a single paced the third baseman to plate a run. Farber then blasted a 1-1 pitch to right center for a three-run round tripper and put Texas State in front.

Capping off the eight-run frame was Pena as he hit his second home run of the inning, this time being a three-run bomb, to make it 8-2.

The third saw Galloway start things off with a triple down the third baseline. He would score as Farris grounded out. Powell would later hit a sacrifice fly add the second run of the inning and make it an eight-run advantage.

App State would get two runs back in the fourth but Pena hit his third home run of the game in the bottom of the frame. It was a two-run shot as he became the first Bobcat to hit a homer in three consecutive at-bats since Mora did so against North Dakota State on Mar. 11, 2023.

Two more runs for Texas State came in the fifth off a Mora RBI single and then a passed ball. Powell hit an RBI double in the sixth to make it a 15-6 lead after six complete.

CJ Boyd led off the seventh with a home run for the Mountaineers final run of the game.

With two outs and Aaron Lugo on first in the bottom of the frame, Galloway since a hard shot back up the middle that hit off the bottom of Cy Smith's shoe. He was able to get to the ball and throw to first, but the ball sailed past the first baseman. That allowed Lugo to score from first and the sophomore designated hitter to advance to second.

Three straight free passes were issued to the Bobcats with the last being to Powell to complete the walk-off run-rule victory.

Sunday's series finale is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch.

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