JONESBORO, Ark. (Interstat) — Texas State scored six runs in the first two innings and never looked back, defeating Arkansas State 8-3 on Saturday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field.

The Bobcats jumped on Arkansas State starter Tyler Weimer immediately in the top of the first. Manny Salas walked and stole second, Jaquae Stewart walked, and Clayton Namken delivered a run-scoring double down the left-field line. After a strikeout, Justin Vossos singled up the middle to drive in two runs. Chase Mora followed with a two-run home run to right field, his eighth of the season, and Texas State led 5-0.

The Bobcats added two more in the second. Rashawn Galloway was hit by a pitch, Salas walked and stole third, and Stewart singled through the left side to bring home Galloway. Bennett Fryman then singled up the middle to score Salas, pushing the lead to 7-0.

Arkansas State answered in the fourth inning. Derek Martinez led off with a solo home run down the right-field line, his 14th of the season. Lane Walton followed with his 12th homer of the year, a solo shot to right. Later in the inning, Ashton Quiller hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Aidan Houseworth, cutting the deficit to 7-3. Texas State starter Cade Smith, who did not allow a hit in five innings, was charged with three earned runs on two walks, two hit batters and the two homers. He struck out five.

Texas State added an unearned run in the seventh. Namken doubled to left-center and scored on Fryman’s single to the pitcher’s mound, which was accompanied by a throwing error from reliever Kole Turner.

Turner entered for Arkansas State in the second inning after the first two pitchers had combined to allow seven runs. He delivered 7⅓ innings of three-hit relief with five strikeouts and no earned runs, allowing only that unearned run in the seventh. But the early deficit proved insurmountable.

Texas State’s bullpen shut down the Red Wolves over the final four innings. Dylan Kerbow, Alec Beversdorf and Cameron O’Banan combined for four scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out three. Beversdorf worked two perfect innings with one strikeout, and O’Banan retired three of four batters in the ninth with two strikeouts.

Arkansas State had eight hits, but grounded into three double plays to squander scoring chances. Martinez and Walton each went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. For Texas State, Namken went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Mora finished 1-for-4 with the homer and two RBIs. Vossos was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

The Bobcats improved to 30-21 overall, while the Red Wolves fell to 28-21. Texas State won the opening game of the series 6-2 on Friday and will conclude the three-game set Sunday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Arkansas State 5, Texas State 3, and its ELO system gave Texas State a 57.60 percent probability to win.