Texas State hammers App State to win series

Despite trailing 4-0, Texas State scored 10 unanswered runs en route to a 17-7 win via run rule beating the App State Mountaineers 17-7. 

The Bobcats smashed App State for 17 hits including a three home run performance by left fielder Daylan Pena to win the conference opening series. 

“[App State] came in swinging and put up four runs early,” Head Coach Steve Trout said. “Our guys never blinked and came in getting the barrel going. They did a good job of getting good counts and driving the baseball into the middle of the field. Obviously Pena had a huge day on offense with the three homers which is really hard to do.”

Texas State found themselves in a hole early after App State scored two runs in the top of the first inning and two more in the top of the second inning.

Going into the bottom of the second inning, Pena started the offensive by blasting a leadoff home run to cut the lead down to 4-1.

Following back to back singles by August Ramirez and Rashawn Galloway, freshman outfielder Ethan Farris connected with a RBI single down the third base line to make it a 4-2 game. 

Ryne Farber gave the lead back to Bobcats in the next at-bat smashing a three-run homer into right center field as the Bobcats took back the lead at 5-2.

The Bobcats continued to put runners on base as Alec Patino and Chase Mora got on base with a walk and single. 

Batting back around the order, Pena made a lightning strike twice. The junior connected with a three-run home run to make an 8-4 lead.

“I was just finding good pitches to hit,” Pena said. “Just trusting the game plan and going out there executing.”

It marks the third straight game where the Bobcats answered back runs scored by opposition in which Trout calls rebound ball.

“They are going to score and we have to answer back,” Pena said. “That’s how it is going to be for the rest of the year. We just need to have successful [at-bats] and let everything else happen.”

A scoreless top of the third inning by relief pitcher Cameron Bush led to more runs for the Bobcats in the same inning. After a leadoff triple by Galloway, Farris scored his second RBI of the day with the fielder’s choice to put the Bobcats up 9-4.

Farber forced a walk and advanced to third by stealing second before taking third on a passed ball. 

Davis Powell scored Farber on the sacrifice fly giving the Bobcats a 10-4 lead.

App State answered back in the fourth inning scoring two runs to cut the lead down but the Bobcats were not done yet. 

After Mora started the bottom of the fourth with a lead-off double, Pena smashed his third homer of the day as Texas State was back up 12-6.

Texas State added three more runs to their total pushing App State to the run rule leading 15-6.

The Mountaineers scored one run in the top of the seventh only for Texas State to score two more to reach the run rule, scoring on a bases loaded walk. 

Texas State looks to complete the sweep on Sunday when the Bobcats host App State in the finale of the three game series.