SAN MARCOS, Texas – For the fourth consecutive year, the Texas State baseball team (3-0) swept the opening weekend of the series after defeating Niagara (0-3) on Saturday 11-0 in eight innings a Bobcat Ballpark. The shutout was the second of the series and is the first time the Bobcats have shutout opponents in two of the first three games of a season.
 
Jesus Tovar (1-0) earned the winning after striking out six in five innings while giving up three hits and a walk. Take the loss was Gage Wheaton (0-1) after surrendering five runs on five hits and two walks in three frames.
 
The trio of Alizaeh Gutierrez, Cade Smith and Tyler Walton all worked an inning of relief with one hit allowed. Gutierrez recorded all three of his out via a punch out.
 
Jaquae Stewart had a big day at the plate going 3-for-4, scoring twice and driving in a run. The junior tied the school record with two triples while also hitting a double. Dawson Park went 2-for-4 with four RBI and a triple on his birthday.
 
Also recording a multi-hit game was Chase Mora with two singles. The senior third baseman came around to score three times and plated two runs.
 
Manny Salas hit a solo home run and Rashawn Galloway drove in two runs. On the base path, Jackson Cotton stole two bases.
 
With two outs in the first, Stewart doubled down the right field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Mora followed with a single put the middle to bring in the first run of the afternoon. A walk to Salas and a failed pickoff attempt put two runners in scoring position for Park, who smacked a triple to center that put TXST ahead 3-0.
 
Stewart led off the third by tripling to right field after the outfield lost the ball in the sun. He would come home one pitch later when Mora grounded out to the second baseman. Salas then hit a 406-foot homer off the new scoreboard in right center for his first career home run in a Bobcat uniform.
 
Three more runs were tallied in the fourth. Two came off the bat of Galloway on a double while the other came when Stewart tripled for the second time in as many innings.
 
Mora added to the lead in the sixth that began when he was walked with two outs. The Tomball, Texas native moved into scoring position when Salas was plunked and they both advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch. After Park drew a free pass to load the bases, another wild pitch allowed Mora to score.
 
In the eighth, Stewart was hit by a pitch and lifted for pinch runner Samson Pugh. A slower chopper off the bat of Mora resulted in an infield single and Salas worked a free pass to load the bases with one gone. Park ended the game with a two RBI single to right center.
 
Next up for the Bobcats is a trip up I-35 to take on Baylor on Tuesday that is scheduled for a 4 p.m. first pitch.
 
For all things Texas State baseball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.