SAN MARCOS, Texas (Interstat) — Alexandre Giguere launched two home runs and drove in four runs, and the Washington State Cougars weathered a late rally to defeat the Texas State Bobcats 9-7 in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday at Bobcat Ballpark.

The victory improved Washington State to 6-7 this season, while 10th-ranked Texas State fell to 10-3. The result defied pregame projections that heavily favored the Bobcats.

The most important part of the game came in the middle innings, as Washington State seized control with a five-run outburst in the top of the fourth. Trailing 5-2 after Dawson Park’s three-run homer for Texas State in the third, the Cougars mounted a decisive response. Ryan Skjonsby doubled home Mason Pirello, and after Dane Chavez was hit by a pitch, Giguere connected for his first homer of the day, a three-run shot to left-center off starter Kyle Froehlich. That swing turned a three-run deficit into a 6-5 Washington State lead, a advantage the Cougars would not relinquish.

Giguere, the Cougars’ catcher, added a solo homer down the left-field line in the eighth inning for his fourth RBI, providing critical insurance. He finished 2 for 4. His power surge continued from Thursday’s series opener, where he also homered in a 13-11 loss.

Washington State starter Nick Lewis labored through five innings for the win, allowing six earned runs on 11 hits while striking out seven. The Cougars’ bullpen, however, delivered 4 1/3 scoreless innings to secure the game. After Ryan Falke and Kaden Wickersham handled the sixth, Scott Rienguette was pivotal, entering with two on in the seventh and striking out Chase Mora to end the threat. Rienguette fired 2 2/3 perfect innings with four strikeouts to earn the save.

Texas State out-hit Washington State 11 to 8 but left 10 runners on base. Rashawn Galloway led the Bobcats, going 3 for 5 with three RBIs, including a run-scoring single in the eighth that pulled Texas State within 9-7. Park’s three-run homer in the third was his only hit in five at-bats.

Froehlich took the loss for Texas State, surrendering six runs, five earned, on six hits over six innings. Reliever Alizaeh Gutierrez provided 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief for the Bobcats.

Washington State added two runs in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Dustin Robinson and a wild pitch, and another in the eighth on Giguere’s second homer, building a 9-6 lead. Texas State’s final rally in the eighth scored one and put two runners on, but Rienguette stranded them and then worked a perfect ninth, finishing the game by inducing a double play.

The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Friday. Washington State will remain in Texas for the series finale on Saturday before heading to San Diego State next weekend. Texas State will host the University of Texas on Tuesday before opening Sun Belt Conference play at Louisiana-Monroe.