Texas State Athletics

JONESBORO, Ark. – Six home runs were hit by Texas State (31-21, 13-14 Sun Belt) on Sunday to give the team 93 on the year and break the single-season record. The power surge led the Bobcats to a 15-9 win over Arkansas State (28-22, 11-16 Sun Belt) from Tomlison Stadium to complete the series sweep.
 
"I'm really proud of our team to bounce back and complete the sweep and the week. That was a really good job by our offense to continuously put press on Arkansas State all day. What a day to break the all-time home run record," said head coach Steven Trout. "We have to rest up and get ready for a big game Tuesday in San Antonio and a short week starting on Thursday."
 
Jesus Tovar (7-2) struck out three in two innings out of the bullpen to pick up the win. Dylan Farley (7-2) allowed three runs as he walked two and hit one batter without recording an out to take the loss.
 
Making his second straight Sunday start was Ryan Markwardt, who recorded a season-high seven strikeouts in three innings while giving up two runs. Alizaeh Gutierrez struck out the side in his lone inning of work and both Kyle Froehlich and Shane Connell had two punch outs apiece.
 
TXST's staff recorded 17 strikeouts on the day. It is the most in a game this season and the highest since punching out 17 versus Oklahoma State from Globe Life Field on Feb. 18, 2025. The strikeout total is also the most in a Sun Belt Conference game since posting 18 strikeouts against Georgia Southern on Apr. 8, 2022.
 
Chase Mora went 4-for-6 at the plate with three RBI, two runs and hit his 40th career home run. Clayton Namken finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and four runs. All three of his base knocks went for extra-bases with two homers and a double. Also hitting two round trippers was Rashawn Galloway, who ended the day 3-for-4 with three RBI and scored three times.
 
Also leaving the yard was Manny Salas, who also drew two walks and scored thrice. Brady Boles, Bennett Fryan and Justin Vossos all plated a run each.
 
The game began with Galloway and Salas being walked and Jaquae Stewart being plunked to load the bases. Following a pitching change, Namken worked a free pass to bring in the first run of the game. Fryman followed with a sacrifice fly to double the lead. Both Boles and Mora hit RBI singles through the right side of the infield to cap off the four-run opening frame.
 
Galloway led off the second with a solo home run down the right field line for the record breaking long ball. Later in the inning, Salas scored on a misplayed grounder to increase the lead to six runs.
 
The Red Wolves would score twice in the third to get on the scoreboard.
 
In the fifth, Galloway left the yard for the second time with a two-run round tripper to left center. It was the first of three long balls in the inning. Salas followed with a 427-foot shot to right center and two batters later, Namken sent a 2-1 offering 403 feet for a two-run shot and increased the advantage to 11-2.
 
ASU would get a run back in the bottom of the frame on an RBI double from Evan Griffis.
 
Texas State went back up by nine in the seventh when Namken blasted a 1-1 offering 421 feet to left center for his second homer of the contest.
 
After the Red Wolves tallied three runs in the bottom of the seventh, Mora led off the next half inning with a 408-foot shot to left field for his ninth home run of the season.
 
The bottom of the eighth saw ASU again put up a three-spot. The first run was a solo shot from Jackson Illingworth and Patrick Engskov hit a two-run homer later in the inning to cut TXST's advantage to 13-9.
 
Between walks drawn by Stewart and Fryman was a double off the bat of Namken to load the bases. Vossos ripped a 3-2 pitch to center for an RBI single. Mora would groundout to the shortstop that brought in the second insurance run of the inning.
 
Froehlich closed out the contest with back-to-back strikeouts as he stranded two ASU runners on base.
 
Next up for the Bobcats is a trip to I-35 rival UTSA on Tuesday with first pitch set for 6 p.m.
 
For all things Texas State baseball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.