SAN MARCOS, Texas – Junior Jaquae Stewart propelled Texas State (13-8, 1-3 Sun Belt) to its first Sun Belt Conference win of the season Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark. He hit a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat 25th-ranked Louisiana (16-6, 2-2 Sun Belt) by a score of 4-1.
 
It was a pitchers' duel for the first seven innings that saw Kyle Froehlich strike out a season-high 10 batters and his counterpart Sawyer Pruitt punched out eight. Froehlich retired 16 straight batters are one points with half of them coming via a strikeout.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns would breakthrough in the eighth as Steven Spalitta led off the frame with a triple. Two batters later, Blaze Rodriguez laced a single to left field to drive in the first run of the contest.
 
With two gone in the bottom of the frame, Jackson Cotton singled to right field to beat the shift. Manny Salas was then hit by a pitch and Rashawn Galloway was walked on four pitches to load the bases. After a pitching change, Stewart sent the first pitch to him 385 feet over the right field wall for his first career grand slam.
 
Lee Amedee singled down the right field line to start the ninth but Wade Cooper induced Colt Brown to hit into a double play. A fly out to Samson Pugh in centerfield sealed the Bobcats' victory.
 
Cooper (1-0) earned his first career win after throwing two scoreless frames in relief with one strikeout. Parker Smith (0-2) took the loss as he gave up three runs on one hit and free pass.
 
At the plate, both Chase Mora and Galloway recorded a double. The base knock for Galloway extended his hitting streak to 14 games. Also finishing with a hit on the night was Clayton Namken, Dawson Park and Cotton.
 
Game two of the series is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. first pitch on Saturday.
 
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