Feb. 20, 2005

Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The seventh inning has been a roller-coaster ride for Texas State over the last three games, but Sunday's stretch inning saw the Bobcats deliver a knock-out punch in the series rubber match at New Mexico.

Friday night's seventh saw the Bobcats give up 11 runs in their 19-5 loss to the Lobos. Saturday's seventh was quiet in Texas State's 10-6 win, but Elliott Babcock brought the fireworks back to the stretch inning with his one-out grand slam that broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh.

New Mexico jumped on Texas State starter Ryan Bennett early, scoring a run in each of the game's first two innings. Texas State would wait until the top of the fifth to answer, when Kyle Jones doubled into left field to score Jared Bunn from second.

The score remained tied until the top of the seventh. Jose Rodriguez doubled to left center, Doug Pearce was hit by a pitch and Dominic Ramos drew a one-out walk to load the bases for Babcock. Babcock drove the Petr Pacas pitch over the center field wall for his second home run of the year, and the grand-slam made the score 6-2.

Later in the seventh, Kyle Anson crossed home plate on a throwing error, extending Texas State's lead to five. The Bobcats would add two more runs in the eighth on Anson's two-out single that scored Ramos and Cassidy Dresch, moving the score to 9-2.

Babcock's grand slam, his only hit of the game, made him one-for-four at the plate with four runs batted in and a run scored. Anson was two-for-five in the contest with two runs batted in and two runs scored, and Luke Cannon went three-for-five from the plate for the Bobcats.

Lobo catcher Carlos Castillo went one-for-three with an RBI and a run scored, including his first home run of the season. New Mexico's offense also received a spark from A.J. Spitaleri with his one-for-three, one RBI performance at the plate.

The loss is the second straight for the Lobos, who fell to 4-6 on the season, and the win pushed Texas State's record to 8-2 in 2005. Jason Baca picked up the win for the Bobcats, his first of the season in three shut-out innings of relief. Baca struck out three of the ten batters he faced. Bobcat starter Ryan Bennett was unable to get the decision despite five innings and two runs given up. Taking the loss for the Lobos was Darren Coltrinari, dropping his record to 1-2.

Up next for the Bobcats will be Friday against Miami (Ohio) in Lafayette, La., during the Mardi Gras Baseball Classic. Friday's game time is set for 2 p.m. Saturday Texas State will play Marist at 6 p.m., and will conclude the weekend event against host-school Louisiana-Lafayette at 4:05 p.m., Sunday.