Feb. 12, 2005

Box Score

Texas State used an 11-hit attack and held off a late Angelo State rally in the ninth inning to post a 9-5 victory in its 2005 baseball home opener at Bobcat Field on Saturday.

The Bobcats (3-1) got six strong innings out of right-hander Chris Jean, who scattered six hits and struck out six in raising his record to 2-0. Senior right-hander Chris Hill came on with the bases loaded in the ninth and retired two batters to collect his first save of the season.

At the plate, Texas State got two hits apiece from shortstop Dominic Ramos and second baseman Nolan Mast. Both also drove in a run. Junior centerfielder Heath Keel had a two-run home run in the fifth inning, while junior right-fielder Luke Cannon added a solo blast in the three-run rally. Senior third baseman Kyle Anson also drove in two runs and scored twice in the contest.

After Angelo State (0-2) opened the scoring in the first inning on a fielder's choice RBI by Brad Hough, the Bobcats answered with three in their half of the first inning, keyed by Anson's two-RBI double and a sacrifice fly from Cannon.

Single runs in the fourth, sixth, and seventh surrounded the three-run rally in the fifth inning to give the Bobcats a 9-2 cushion heading to the ninth. Freshman Steven Siers (Georgetown) retired only one of the six batters he faced, surrendering four hits and three runs before giving way to Hill to close it. Jarod Garza pitched two innings of two-hit, scoreless relief for the Bobcats in relief of Jean.

The two teams will meet in the final game of the series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.