SAN MARCOS — Texas State baseball faced Marshall on a warm, windy Friday evening, with an opportunity to claim the Sun Belt series after a 5-0 win the day before. Rain wasn’t on the forecast, but the Bobcats poured down an onslaught of home runs, earning a 12-9 win over the Thundering Herd.
Texas State’s propensity for the long ball has been well-documented. The lineup hit seven during Friday’s win, the fifth time this season the group has recorded more than five home runs in a single game. And although the Bobcats’ approach has led to some dry spells, their recent play suggests they are on an upward swing just ahead of the Sun Belt Tournament.
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“When you start talking about tournament time… That’s the type of offense that has to show up,” Trout said. “You can change the score with one swing.”
The gusts of wind that helped Texas State’s fly balls leave the yard also benefited its opponent, leading to an offensive slugfest. Starting pitcher Wade Cooper struggled with his command. He made it through the first two innings before unraveling completely in the third, giving up four runs on four hits and walking two batters. The Bobcats entered the bottom of the third down 4-1.
Trout said he never felt like Texas State was out of it, though. Designated hitter Manny Salas’ solo shot to left center had set the tone in the first inning. The coach thought his team had been making solid contact. And he proved to be right.
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Texas State Bobcats infielder Manny Salas (33) bats during the second inning as the Texas Longhorns and Texas State Bobcats face off in San Marcos Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
‘Slam Marcos’ is back
Salas hit his second blast of the night to lead off the third. Jaquae Stewart cut the lead to 4-3 with his 16th homer of the season. And Clayton Namken tied the game with a 417-foot bomb that cleared the batter’s eye to complete Texas State’s third back-to-back-to-back home run streak of the season. It extended its lead over Marshall to 7-4 in the fourth and looked to have command of the game.
“I feel like a really good third base coach when that happens,” Trout chuckled.
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The Thundering Herd responded by taking an 8-7 lead in the sixth inning, led by a three-run blast by outfielder Evan Bottone. But Texas State refused to let up. Chase Mora came back in the bottom of the frame with a two-run shot of his own, taking a 9-8 lead that lasted until Marshall tied it in the seventh.
The Thundering Herd had managed to weather the storm, or so they thought. Facing two outs in the seventh, Salas recorded his third home run of the game, followed closely by Namken, who sent a pitch so far deep that the Marshall center fielder barely even took a step toward the wall. Texas State led 12-9, and Marshall had run out of steam.
“It’s kind of what we do,” Trout said. “They continue to put pressure on guys.”
The Bobcats’ pitching staff is still a mixed bag of results. Trout said Cooper’s 114-pitch complete game against Arkansas State last week may have affected his Friday performance. But pitcher Kyle Froehlich stepped up, holding Marshall to three innings of one-run ball to seal the win.
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Putting aside the drama of the UTSA loss, Texas State has revitalized its season following the series loss to South Alabama. Salas said there’s been a noticeable shift in energy since then.
“The hitters, the pitchers, all just combined and being in unison. I think everyone’s been getting along very well,” Salas said.
Although an at-large bid will be tough to come by, the Bobcats have proven that their program-record 105 home runs were no fluke. Texas State will be one of the most dangerous teams in the Sun Belt Tournament, and could very well shock the conference in its last run before heading to the Pac-12.
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“I think our offense can keep up with anybody,” Salas said.