BOONE, N.C. – Texas State fell in the Sun Belt Conference opener 15-4 to App State in seven innings on Friday night from Smith Stadium.

With the result, the Bobcats are now 8-9 overall and 0-1 in conference play while the Mountaineers improved to 9-8 on the season and 1-0 in the Sun Belt.

Picking up the win was Caleb Cross (2-0) that saw him striking out five in five innings while allowing two runs on five walks and two hits. Jesus Tovar (0-2) suffered the loss after giving up seven runs on five hits in two innings.

Five TXST hurlers appeared out of the bullpen. Shane Connell worked 1.1 innings with two punch outs while both Colby Diaz and Conner Doucet tossed an inning apiece with Doucet striking out two batters.

Chase Mora went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and scored a run. Zachary Gingrich scored twice while hitting his second home run of the season. Reaching base twice via two hit by pitches was Ryne Farber while Alan Shibley drew two walks and drove in a run.

The Bobcats threatened to strike their first time at the plate as Mora drew a leadoff walk and Shibley reached via an error. However, the next three batters would be retired in order.

In the bottom of the second, the Mountaineers loaded the bases on two singles and a hit by pitch. They would go on to score five runs in the frame for the early lead.

Mora doubled down the line with one gone in the third. Shibley followed with a walk and Ryne Farber was plunked to load the bases. Austin Eaton worked a free pass to bring home the first run of the game for TXST. However, a double play would end the team's threat and the frame.

App State answered back with two runs in the bottom of the frame with one coming in on a throwing error and the other via a passed ball.

Gingrich teed off on a 1-0 pitch that traveled 391 feet over the right field wall for a solo homer in the top of the fourth. It was his second home run in as many games.

The runs continued to cross the plate for the Mountaineers as they scored three times in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead to double-digits. The hosts would tack on another run in the fifth.

Gingrich started off the sixth by working a free pass. Samson Pugh then singled and Dawson Park as walked on four pitches to load the bases. A 1-1 offering was sent to center by Mora for a single that plated a run. A sacrifice fly by Shibley would bring home the final run of the game for either team.

Game two of the series is scheduled for a 2 p.m. CT first pitch on Saturday.

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