April 22, 2005

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Texas State got seven singles in the ninth inning and scored six runs in the final frame to get by Sam Houston State 7-6 at Bobcat Field.

Texas State (25-17, 9-7 SLC) fell behind in the second inning, as Sam Houston (14-24-2, 6-10 SLC) scored on Josh Warren's RBI single, but the Bobcats were able to answer in the bottom of the second, when Jared Bunn singled home Jose Rodriguez to tie the game at 1-1.

Both teams stayed off the scoreboard until the sixth, when Jose Salazar hit a bases-loaded double for Sam Houston, giving the Bearkats a 4-1 lead through six. Sam Houston added a single run in the eighth on Warren's second RBI, and extended the lead to 6-1 in the ninth when Roy Merritt drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Ryan Trevino.

Things looked bleak for the Bobcats heading into their last at bat, but Bunn and Cassidy Dresch got things started with a pair of singles, and Luke Cannon drew a pinch-hit walk to load the bases for Dominic Ramos. Ramos laced a ball through the left side, bringing Bunn home and cutting the Bearkat lead to four.

Nolan Mast followed Ramos' RBI single with one of his own, bringing Dresch across the plate, which was then followed by a Kyle Anson single that brought home Cannon and Ramos, making the score 6-5.

With no outs and runners at first and second, Kyle Jones nailed the sixth Bobcat single of the inning through the infield's left side, loading the bases for Elliott Babcock. Babcock hit a chopped grounder that glanced the glove of the Bearkat pitcher and allowed the Bobcat freshman to reach base for an RBI infield single, tying the game at 6-6 and continuing the Bobcat rally with no outs in the bottom of the ninth.

Rodriguez came to the plate with a chance to cap the rally and did just that, lifting a fly ball mid-way into center, deep enough for Anson to dash across the plate and give the Bobcats a one-run victory in the series opener.

Tyler Bryant was the pitcher of record when the run scored, which pushed his record to 3-0 on the year. The loss was credited to Zach Duncan, since he was responsible for the runner at third. His record fell to 0-4 with the loss.

Texas State starter Scott Moore went five innings, giving up five hits and three runs while striking out five Bearkat batters in the no-decision. The Bobcats used five pitchers on the night, as Jarod Garza threw one inning, Chris Hill went 2.2, and Tyler Bryant pitched the last third for the `Cats. Brady Robbins faced a pair of batters in the ninth, but did not record an out.

Sam Houston starter Robert Manuel also got no decision, giving up ten hits and one run in eight innings, striking out one Bobcat batter.

The Bobcats out-hit Sam Houston 17-to-nine in the game, as all nine Bobcat starters recorded a hit in the game. Bunn led the charge for Texas State, going four-for-four with an RBI and a run scored, while Mast and Ramos each went two-for-five, each scoring one and driving in one on the night.

Anson, Jones and Rodriguez were each two-for-four, with Rodriguez and Anson each scoring a run in the game. Anson had two RBIs on the night, while Rodriguez' game-winner was his lone run driven in for the `Cats.

Texas State and Sam Houston will square off again Saturday, with first pitch coming at 3 p.m., from Bobcat Field. Saturday's game can be heard live on KTSW, 89.9 FM, as well as world-wide on the Internet through College Sports Pass at www.txstatebobcats.com.