COLLEGE STATION, Texas (Interstat) — Ryan Markwardt tossed three scoreless innings of relief, striking out four while allowing no hits, to lead Texas State past Southern California 5-4 in a playoff game Friday at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.

Chase Mora went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs for the Bobcats, including a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the ninth. Brady Boles added a two-run homer in the fifth. Texas State collected eight hits, while USC had 10.

The Bobcats struck first on a sacrifice fly by Mora in the second. Southern California answered with two unearned runs in the second and third. Abbrie Covarrubias homered for the Trojans in the fourth, cutting the lead to 5-3. Boles homered in the fifth, and Adrian Lopez homered for USC in the eighth. Mora’s ninth-inning blast sealed the win.

Wade Cooper worked three innings of one-run relief for Texas State, striking out five. Grant Govel struck out six in 5.2 innings for USC, allowing four hits and three earned runs.

Texas State improves to 37-24; Southern California falls to 43-16.