Texas State used three solo home runs and a dominant pitching performance to shut out Marshall 5-0 Thursday night in the opener of their Sun Belt Conference baseball series in San Marcos, Texas.
The Bobcats struck quickly against Marshall starter Bryce Blevins, who entered the game with an 8-3 record.
Jaquae Stewart opened the scoring with a solo homer to right field in the first inning before Clayton Namken followed later in the frame with another solo shot to center to give Texas State a 2-0 lead.
Brady Boles added a leadoff home run in the second inning as the Bobcats (32-22, 14-14 Sun Belt) built a three-run advantage early off of three home runs.
Marshall (23-29, 13-15) struggled offensively against Texas State starter Ryan Markwardt, who allowed just two hits and struck out nine over six shutout innings. Reliever Jesus Tovar closed the final three innings for his first save as the Herd finished with only four hits and struck out 13 times.
Tyler Kamerer doubled for Marshall’s lone extra-base hit while Evan Bottone, Cooper Hinson and Jack Smith each added singles.
Blevins settled in after the rocky start and worked seven innings, allowing five runs on nine hits while striking out three. Texas State added two insurance runs in the seventh inning on hits from Blake Beheler and Stewart.
Marshall threatened to get on the scoreboard in the eighth inning after Bottone singled and Jack Smith walked, but the Herd grounded into an inning-ending double play. The Herd also put two runners aboard in the ninth before Tovar recorded the final out.
The loss dropped Marshall to 23-29 overall and 13-15 in Sun Belt play, while Texas State improved to 32-22 and 14-14 in conference action.
Box Score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Texas State | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | 5 | 10 | 0 |
WP: Ryan Markwardt (2-2)
LP: Bryce Blevins (8-4)
SV: Jesus Tovar (1)
Marshall Leaders
- Tyler Kamerer: 1 for 4, 2B
- Evan Bottone: 1 for 3
- Jack Smith: 1 for 2
- Cooper Hinson: 1 for 4
Texas State Leaders
- Jaquae Stewart: 2 for 4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI
- Brady Boles: 2 for 4, HR, 2B
- Clayton Namken: 1 for 4, HR
- Bennett Fryman: 2 for 3
- Blake Beheler: 1 for 2, RBI
Up next
Marshall at Texas State, 7 p.m., Friday (ESPN+)