SAN MARCOS, Texas – For the first time since 2013, Texas State (22-10) defeated 18th-ranked Texas A&M (25-7) at home with a 9-8 victory on Tuesday night at the newly dedicated Irvine-Rasmussen Ballpark.
 
Jaquae Stewart led the way with four RBI on a 2-for-4 day at the plate with a single and home run. Both Ethan Farris and Justin Vossos plated two runs and Manny Salas scored twice and had one RBI.
 
Cade Smith (2-0) picked up the win after throwing 2.2 innings of relief with three strikeouts while allowing two runs on four hits. Wade Cooper got the final four outs with half coming via a strikeout to earn his fifth save of the year. Juan Varga (2-1) walked the lone batter he faced and ended up being the go-ahead run to take the loss.
 
Making his first start in a TXST uniform was Alizaeh Gutierrez. The lefty had one strikeout in two innings but allowed three runs on three hits. Keller Eberly struck out the side in his inning on the mound while Dylan Kerbow and Titan Targac also worked an inning of relief.
 
The Aggies jumped out to an early advantage after scoring twice in the first and added another run in the second.
 
In the bottom of the second, Salas led off by sending a 0-1 pitch the opposite way for a solo homer to give him 10 round trippers on the season. Chase Mora was hit by a pitch and Clayton Namken followed with a double down the right field line to put two in scoring position with two gone.
 
Vossos followed with a double down the left field line that plated both runners. However, he suffered an injury rounding the bases and would be lifted for Brady Boles.
 
The bottom of the third began with back-to-back singles from Rashawn Galloway and Dawson Park that put runners on the corners. Farris hit a deep fly ball to centerfield for a sacrifice fly to put the Bobcats in front. The lead grew three pitches later when Stewart smacked a 2-0 offering 438 feet off the batter's eye in centerfield.
 
In the next half inning, Texas A&M scored twice to get back to within one on a homer from Boston Kellner. The Aggies would retake the lead in the sixth with a two-run frame that was aided by a TXST error.
 
Jackson Cotton began the seventh with a walk and Park worked a free pass two batters later. After Salas reached base on a fielder's choice that put runners on the corners, Farris sent the first pitch he saw to left center for an RBI double to tie the game. Stewart ripped the first pitch to him down the left field line for a two RBI single to put the Bobcats up 9-7.
 
With one gone in the ninth, Jorian Wilson doubled to right center. He would advance 90 feet on a wild pitch and later scored on another wild pitch to cut Texas State's advantage to a run. Kellner was able to draw a walk to bring up the dangerous Gavin Grahovac. Cooper was able to get him to hit a grounder to Mora for the final out of the game.
 
The Bobcats are right back at it on Wednesday when they host Stephen F. Austin for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
 
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