Texas State Athletics

JONESBORO, Ark. – Seven runs were scored over the first two innings by Texas State (30-21, 12-14 Sun Belt) as the team went on to defeat Arkansas State (28-21, 11-15 Sun Belt) 8-3 Saturday night from Tomlison Stadium to clinch the series.
 
"Really good job by our offense coming out and attacking, which allowed us to settle into the game. A lot of two-out RBI and a ton of barrels on the night," said head coach Steven Trout. "Cade was typical Cade other than his fourth inning, but he made some big pitches to limit the damage. Now the goal is to bring the juice for an early game and get a much-needed sweep."
 
Cade Smith (4-2) struck out five in five innings while giving up three runs on six hits to pick up the win. Taking the loss was Tyler Weimer (4-2), who surrendered five runs in the first innings.
 
Tossing two scoreless frames of relief was Alec Beversdorf. Both Dylan Kerbow and Cameron O'Banan worked an inning apiece with O'Banan recording two strikeouts.
 
Going 2-for-4 with an RBI at the plate was Bennett Fryman and Clayton Namken. Both of Namken's base knocks were doubles and he also scored twice. Chase Mora and Justin Vossos each plated two runs on the night and Salas drew two walks and scored two times.
 
After Rashawn Galloway fouled out to the third baseman on the first pitch of the game, Jaquae Stewart and Salas were each walked. Namken followed with a double down the left field line to bring in the first run of the game. Two batters later, Vossos sent the ball back up the middle to drive in two more runs.
 
Mora sent a 1-0 offering the other way and saw it fly over the right field fence for his eighth home run of the season and 39th in his career. The two-run round tripper capped off the five-run opening frame.
 
In the second, Stewart laced a 0-2 offering past the diving third baseman for an RBI single. Salas swiped his second bag in as many innings. He would come home when Fryman smoked the first pitch he saw back u the middle for a single to put TXST ahead 7-0.
 
The Red Wolves would get on the scoreboard in the fourth. They got back-to-back homers from Derek Martinez and Lane Walton. A sacrifice fly from Ashton Quiller capped off the three-run frame.
 
Namken doubled to left center in the seventh with two gone. A 1-1 pitch to Fryman saw him hit the ball off the plate and it bounced high into the air. That allowed the junior to reach safely and wild throw by the pitcher allowed him to advance to second and Namken to score the finale run of the game.
 
ASU threatened to cut into the deficit in the eighth when it got runners on the corners with one gone. Beversdorf was able to induce the third double play of the game for Texas State to end the inning.
 
Sunday's series finale is scheduled for an 11 a.m. first pitch.
 
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