Feb. 23, 2005
With no mid-week baseball for Texas State, Bobcat eyes are now focused on the Third-Annual Mardi Gras Classic, beginning Friday in Lafayette, La.
The Bobcats are 8-2 and coming off of a series win at New Mexico, a series in which Texas State dropped game one, but rebounded to win the next two in the three-game set.
Texas State's offensive production has been pushed by Kyle Anson's 14 runs batted in and Dominic Ramos' 16 runs scored. Nolan Mast has been one of the team's top hitters with a .433 average, and Heath Keel and Elliot Babcock share the home run lead, each having two homers this season.
Defense has been the key to Texas State's early success. The `Cats have committed only 11 errors and have three games without an error this season. Bobcat pitchers have held the opposition to 46 runs and 83 hits in ten games, and opponents are hitting .257 off of Texas State hurlers.
B.J. Boening and Chris Hill have yet to give up an earned run for the Bobcats, and Scott Moore's ERA rests at 0.90. Jarod Garza and Jason Baca are also in the team's top five for earned run average, with both relievers' ERA at 1.12. Moore has the team's second-best strike out total at 13, with Bobcat starter Chris Jean at a team-best 14 strike outs. Jean is 2-1 in three starts, and Ryan Bennett is 2-0 in his three appearances.
Texas State's first opponent in Louisiana will be Miami (Ohio). Friday afternoon's game will be the season opener for the Red Hawks, who ended last year 36-21 and are picked to win the Mid-America Conference's East Division by Baseball America and MAC coaches.
Saturday's opponent will have one game under its belt, as the Bobcats will play Marist from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Marist plays for the first time Friday night against tournament-host Louisiana-Lafayette. The Red Foxes were 25-29 last season and are picked third in the MAAC pre-season coach's poll.
Texas State will finish tournament play on Sunday against the 7-0 Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns. The Cajuns have scored 46 runs in their seven games, and have put a padlock on home plate, allowing just 16 runs this season. UL-Lafayette pitchers are holding opponents to a .219 average.
Friday, Texas State will send Jean to the hill to face Miami (OH) lefty Graham Taylor at 2 p.m., and Bobby Sawicki will pitch Saturday at 6 p.m., against Marist lefty Chris Tracz. Bennett will go Sunday in the tournament finale against left handed pitcher C.J. Blue for the Ragin' Cajuns, with game time slated for 4:05 p.m.
