March 18, 2005

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Bobby Sawicki struck out five Nicholls State hitters in six innings Friday night to gain his second win of the season, as Texas State turned back the Colonels 8-4 at Bobcat Field.

The Bobcats pounded out only five hits but scored eight runs, thanks in part to three Nicholls State errors and five free passes by Colonel pitchers.

Texas State fell behind early when Thomas Bourne doubled to lead off the game and came around to score on a Bobcat throwing error at first.

Texas State struck back in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs on two hits, highlighted by Cassidy Dresch's two-RBI triple that put the `Cats up 3-1. Texas State got one more in the second, and held Nicholls State scoreless for the game's next four innings.

The Bobcats climbed back on the scoreboard in the seventh, after Nicholls State scored a single run in both the sixth and seventh innings. The Bobcats scored two in the seventh on a Nolan Mast sacrifice fly and a Nicholls State throwing error. Texas State got two more in the eighth Keel and Kyle Jones scored on another Colonel error.

Dresch was the only Bobcat with a multi-hit game, going two-for-three with two RBI. Dresch also scored a pair of runs, as did Jones and Keel in the Bobcats' 8-4 victory.

Nicholls State pitcher Mark Fernandez went the distance, pitching eight innings and striking out four. Fernandez walked five Bobcat batters and five of his eight runs given up were earned, as the Nicholls State right-hander's record fell to 3-3 on the season. The loss dropped Nicholls State to 10-8 on the year and 0-1 in Southland Conference play.

The win pushed Texas State's record to 14-8 on the season and 1-0 in the Southland Conference. Sawicki got the win for Texas State, moving his record back to .500 at 2-2. Sawicki's five strike outs moved him past Blake Williams and into a second-place tie with Corey Ehlers on Texas State's all-time strike out list at 206 career K's. Sawicki is now just 28 strike outs away from breaking Texas State's all-time record for career strike outs.

The Bobcats will go for two in a row Saturday against Nicholls State, with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on 89.9 FM, KTSW, as well as world wide on the Internet through College Sports Pass at www.txstatebobcats.com.