SAN MARCOS, Texas (Interstat) — Manny Salas hit three home runs and drove in three runs, leading Texas State to a 12-9 victory over Marshall on Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark.

Salas, the designated hitter, went 4 for 5 with homers in the first, third and seventh innings. His solo shot in the seventh broke a 9-9 tie and gave the Bobcats the lead for good. Clayton Namken also homered twice, finishing 3 for 3 with three RBIs, including a two-run blast later in the seventh that extended the margin to 12-9.

Evan Bottone of Marshall hit a three-run homer in the sixth and drove in four runs, going 2 for 6. Ethan Murdoch added a solo home run for the Thundering Herd.

Texas State improved to 33-22 overall and 33-22 in the Sun Belt. Marshall fell to 23-30.

The game featured eight home runs and 29 combined hits. Texas State outhit Marshall 15-14.

Marshall took an early lead in the top of the third. With the score tied 0-0 after two innings, the Thundering Herd sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs. Jackson Halter singled through the right side for two RBIs, and Ethan Murdoch walked with the bases loaded to force in another run. Mason Onate added a sacrifice fly, making it 4-0.

Texas State answered immediately in the bottom of the third. Salas led off with a home run to left center. Jaquae Stewart followed with a solo shot, and Namken made it three straight homers with a blast to center field. The Bobcats cut the lead to 4-3 before Marshall starter Drew Harlow exited after Bennett Fryman singled.

Marshall added a run in the fourth on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error, making it 5-3. But Texas State tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Rashawn Galloway doubled and scored on Stewart’s single. A fielder’s choice by Fryman brought in another run, and Justin Vossos singled to give the Bobcats a 7-5 lead.

In the sixth, Marshall regained the advantage. Murdoch led off with a home run, and Bottone followed later in the inning with a three-run homer to right center, putting the Thundering Herd ahead 9-7.

Texas State answered again in the bottom of the sixth. Namken walked, and Chase Mora hit a two-run homer to left field, tying the game at 9-9.

The decisive inning was the seventh. Salas led off with his third home run, a solo shot to left field. Stewart was hit by a pitch, and Namken hit his second homer, a two-run shot to right center, giving the Bobcats a 12-9 lead.

Texas State’s bullpen held Marshall scoreless over the final two innings. Kyle Froehlich pitched three innings of relief, allowing one earned run on four hits with three strikeouts. Dylan Kerbow earned the win with 2 2/3 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief, striking out two. Blaine Albright pitched a scoreless eighth for Marshall, but the Texas State offense had already done enough.

Salas’ performance continued a hot streak. In his previous game Thursday against Marshall, he went 1 for 4. Over his last five games, he had two home runs and four RBIs, including a home run against Arkansas State on May 10.

Marshall had lost its previous game 5-0 to Texas State on Thursday. Texas State had won four of its last five entering Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Texas State 6, Marshall 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Texas State a 68.60 percent probability to win.