A-State Hits Five Home Runs in Win Over James Madison

Arkansas State rallies late with five home runs to defeat James Madison 11-9 in Friday night matchup.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:50pm

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An abstract, cubist-style painting depicting the key moments and players of the Arkansas State vs. James Madison baseball game, with the players and field deconstructed into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant team colors.Arkansas State's late-inning power surge propels them to a thrilling comeback victory over James Madison in a key Sun Belt Conference matchup.Harrisonburg Today

Arkansas State University's baseball team scored all 11 of their runs via home runs, including a pair of two-run shots from Derek Martinez and a three-run blast from Cason Campbell, to overcome an early 8-2 deficit and defeat James Madison University 11-9 on Friday night.

Why it matters

This comeback victory showcases the offensive firepower of the Arkansas State Red Wolves, who were able to erase a sizeable deficit through timely and powerful hitting. The win also keeps A-State in contention in the Sun Belt Conference standings as they look to secure a postseason berth.

The details

James Madison jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but A-State chipped away with Martinez's two-run homer in the second inning. The Dukes extended their lead to 8-2 before the Red Wolves responded with Campbell's three-run shot in the fifth. A-State then tied the game at 9-9 in the seventh and eighth innings on homers from Aidan Houseworth and Jake Henry Williams, before Derek Martinez delivered the go-ahead two-run blast in the eighth to give A-State the victory.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 28, 2026.
  • A-State and James Madison will play again on Saturday, March 29, 2026 at 6 p.m.

The players

Arkansas State Red Wolves

The baseball team from Arkansas State University, a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

James Madison Dukes

The baseball team from James Madison University, also a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

Derek Martinez

An Arkansas State player who hit two home runs in the game, including the go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth inning.

Cason Campbell

An Arkansas State player who hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to help the Red Wolves rally.

Aidan Houseworth

An Arkansas State player who hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to tie the game.

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What they’re saying

“Our guys showed a lot of fight and resilience to come back from a big early deficit. The power in our lineup was on display tonight, and that's going to be a big part of our identity this season.”

— Tommy Raffo, Arkansas State Head Coach

What’s next

The two teams will play again on Saturday, March 29, 2026 at 6 p.m. with Arkansas State looking to clinch the series victory.

The takeaway

Arkansas State's powerful offense, led by timely home runs, allowed them to overcome a large early deficit and secure an important conference win over a fellow Sun Belt contender in James Madison.