SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State's offense came alive in an 18-4 run-rule victory in seven innings over Old Dominion in the series opener at Bobcat Ballpark. It is the most runs scored by the Bobcats in a conference game since putting up 30 against Little Rock on Apr. 23, 2022.

With the win, Texas State is now 23-24 on the season and 9-13 in the Sun Belt Conference while the Monarchs drop to 24-20 overall and 11-11 in league play.

The trio of Ryne Farber, Aaron Lugo and Kameron Weil all drove in three runs apiece. Lugo led TXST with three base knocks including his team leading 10th home run of the season. Finishing with two base knocks apiece was Rashawn Galloway, Cade Manning, Farber and Weil.

Coming around to score three times was Alec Patino, Lugo and Weil while Chase Mora and Farber scored two runs each.

On the rubber, Austin Eaton (4-4) struck out two in the first four innings while giving up four runs on five hits to pick up the win. Jay Cassady (0-3) surrendered six runs on three hits and walks in 1.2 innings to take the loss.

Cameron Bush struck out two in 2.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Recording the final two outs of the game was Dalton Buckingham with both coming via a strikeout.

ODU took the lead right off the bat as TJ Aiken hit a solo home run on the third pitch of the game.

The bottom of the second began with Daylan Pena drawing a walk and he would advance to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Davis Powell would also be walked and two batters later, Galloway singled to right field to tie the game.

Six more runs would be scored in the frame with two coming in on a double by Farber and on Lugo's homer to left that landed on the softball field. Weil plated a run with a single and Patino scored off a wild pitch.

The Monarchs got a run back in the third but TXST responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame via a Weil sacrifice fly.

A two-run round tripper off the bat of Maverick Stallings made it an 8-4 contest after the top of the fourth. The next half inning saw the Bobcats get those two runs back off a Powell sacrifice fly and Manning single.

Those two runs were the first of 10 consecutive runs scored by the Bobcats. They would get three more in the fifth that was highlighted by an RBI triple courtesy of Weil. In the sixth, Texas State scored five times off hits by Farber, Lugo, Patino and Powell along with a passed ball.

Saturday will see the series wrap up with a doubleheader due to projected inclement weather on Sunday. The first game will be at 2:30 p.m. and the finale starts approximately 30-45 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest.

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