SAN MARCOS, Texas – A nine-run eighth inning propelled the Texas State baseball team (2-0) to an 11-3 victory over Niagara (0-2) on Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark. The win clinched the season opening series for the Bobcats for the fifth consecutive year.
 
Coming out of the bullpen to earn the win was Shane Connell (1-0), who tossed 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. CJ Hurley (0-1) took the loss after allowing the go-ahead run while facing just one batter in the eighth.
 
Freshman Nolan Moore made his first collegiate start and struck out five in four innings while giving up a run on three hits and walks. Will Canalichio struck out two in 1.2 shutout frames while both Wade Cooper and Josh Glaser each recorded a strikeout in an inning of work.
 
At the plate, Jaquae Stewart went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Manny Salas also had three hits on the night with a triple, scored twice and drove in a run. Clayton Namken finished 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBI.
 
The trio of Brady Boles, Jackson Cotton and Rashawn Galloway scored two runs apiece.
 
It would be the Purple Eagles that got on the scoreboard first in the third with a run. Texas State responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame when Salas tagged up and scored on a fly out by Galloway.
 
Niagara retook the lead with a run in the top of the fifth and would hold it until the seventh. With two outs in the frame, Boles singled back up the middle and then stole second base. Namken laced a pitch down the third baseline that plated a run but he was thrown out at second trying to stretch the base knock into a double.
 
The bottom of the eighth began with Cotton drawing a walk. He would advance the 270 feet around the bases via three wild pitches to give the Bobcats their first lead of the game.
 
Overall, Texas State sent 15 batters to the plate in the eighth and scored nine runs. Stewart drove in three runs in the frame and Namken hit a two-run triple. Also smacking an RBI triple in the frame was Tanner Carson.
 
The Purple Eagles tallied the final run of the game in the ninth when Jason Green hit a solo homer to left center.
 
Sunday's series finale is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
 
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