March 20, 2005

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Kyle Anson went four-for-five, with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored, as Texas State run ruled Nicholls State 19-8 Sunday to gain its first Southland Conference sweep of the season.

The Bobcats fell behind early, giving up eight runs in the game's first three innings, but stayed within striking distance thanks to a three-run second inning and a four-run third.

Nicholls State's big inning came in the top of the third, when the Colonels scored five runs on six hits and one Bobcat error. Thomas Bourne's two-RBI triple highlighted the inning for Nicholls State.

Texas State broke the game open in the fifth inning by putting five runs on the board. The inning began with the first of two Anson home runs, and continued when Dominic Ramos singled through the left side for an RBI after Nicholls State pitchers loaded the bases. Cassidy Dresch brought home two more runs in the inning with an RBI single, and Nolan Mast capped the fifth with a run-scoring sacrifice fly.

The Bobcats lit up the scoreboard again in the sixth, an inning that again began with another Anson lead-off home run. Jared Bunn and Kyle Jones reached base following Anson's homer, bringing Heath Keel to the plate. Keel belted a ball into center field that climbed over the wall in the deepest part of the ballpark for a three-run home run that put the Bobcats up 17-8. The inning continued when with Dawid Bednarek at first, Ramos tripled, making the score 18-8. Anson came to the plate one more time with Ramos on third and smoked a ball through the middle to plate Ramos.

Anson's two home runs were his fourth and fifth of the year, and his three RBI pushed that total to a team-best 26. Keel was the team's top run producer on the day, driving home four in a two-for-three performance, while Jones drove home two, going two-for-three at the plate. Ramos was the fourth Bobcat with a multi-hit game, going two-for-three with two RBI and two runs scored, pushing his run total to a team-high 23. Anson and Jared Bunn each scored three runs in the Bobcat victory.

Texas State starter Ryan Bennett went just 2.1 innings pitched with one strike out, and Bennett gave up all eight Nicholls State runs. Tyler Bryant came on in relief in the third, and went the game's remaining 4.2 innings, striking out three and giving up just three hits to earn his second win of the season, moving his record to 2-0. Nicholls State starter Bryan Myers went just 4.1 innings and picked up the loss for the Colonels, dropping his record to 2-2.

The Colonels fell to an even 10-10 on the season and 0-3 in Southland Conference play, while Texas State improved to 16-8 overall and 3-0 in conference play with the sweep.

Texas State's next action will come outside the Southland Conference Tuesday against Baylor in San Marcos. First pitch between the Bobcats and Bears is slated for 7 p.m., at Bobcat Field.