SAN MARCOS, Texas – Saturday saw Texas State (24-12, 9-6 Sun Belt) drop both games of a doubleheader to Troy at Irvine-Rasmussen Ballpark. The Trojans won the first game 15-2 in seven innings and claimed the second contest 12-11 in 11 innings.
 
Game 1
Troy jumped out to a 3-0 advantage with two runs in the third and another in the fourth. The Bobcats got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth when Dawson Park singled to centerfield to bring home Rashawn Galloway.
 
With two gone in the fifth, the Trojans scored seven runs. They put the game away with five more in the seventh.
 
Manny Salas led off the bottom of the seventh by drawing a walk. He would later steal second and then scored when Jaquae Stewart grounded out to the first baseman for the final run of the contest.
 
Pitching a complete game with eight strikeouts to earn the win was Tommy Egan (4-1). Jesus Tovar (6-2) matched his season high of seven strikeouts but gave up nine runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings to take the loss.
 
Park went 2-for-2 in the contest. Only other TXST hitters to record a hit were Ethan Farris and Galloway.
 
Game 2
The series finale began with Troy scoring three times in the first. In the next half inning began with Jackson Cotton tripling to right field. The very next pitch to Galloway landed just inside fair territory off his bat for an RBI double. The senior would score later when Clayton Namken drew a bases loaded free pass to cut the deficit to a run.
 
Starting the bottom of the second with a single through the ride side was Tanner Carson. After the next two batters flew out, Park singled to left center and Salas was walked to load the bases. Farris was able to beat out a grounder to the shortstop for an infield single to tie the game.
 
On the very next pitch, Stewart sent it over the centerfield wall for his third grand slam of the season. The round tripper put the Bobcats up 7-3.
 
After the Trojans scored three runs in the third to make it a one-run game, Texas State would get back on the score board in the fourth thanks to Stewart. The junior sent a 1-0 offering over the right centerfield wall for his second home run of the contest.
 
Troy responded with a run in the fifth via a sacrifice fly.
 
The bottom of the sixth saw Salas led off with a single. Stewart would come to the plate two batters later and go the opposite way or his third long ball of the game to put the Bobcats ahead 11-7.
 
Over the next three frames, the Trojans chipped away with two runs in the seventh and one apiece in the eighth and ninth to tie the game. The visitors would get a go-ahead home run in the 11th from Josh Pyne.
 
TXST's offense was stifled over the five innings as only one batter would reach base. That came with two outs in the final frame when Chase Mora worked a free pass.
 
Ryan Markwardt (1-2) struck out two in two innings but allowed the game-winning run to suffer the loss. Drew Nelson (1-0) struck out three over the last two frames to pick up the victory.
 
Throwing a season-high 4.2 innings out of the bullpen was Wade Cooper. Working a scoreless inning of relief was Dylan Kerbow while Cade Smith and Keller Eberly tossed two and one inning, respectively.
 
Stewart was the primary offense in the game, going 3-for-5 with eight RBI. He is the first Bobcat with a three-home run game and to hit them all in three straight at-bats since 2024. Recording two base knocks each were Farris, Galloway and Park.
 
Next up for TXST is meeting with HCU on Tuesday at 6 p.m. It will be the last contest of the current nine-game homestand.
 
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