April 24, 2005

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Luke Cannon hit two home runs, including a fourth-inning grand slam, and Kyle Anson went three-for-five with three RBIs, as the Bobcats stormed past Sam Houston State for an 11-7 win and a three-game sweep of the Bearkats.

Sam Houston (14-26-2, 6-12 SLC) jumped out to an early lead, scoring two in the top of the second on a Karl Krailo RBI single and a Kolin Hatfield RBI triple. The `Cats answered the Bearkat second with Luke Cannon's first home run of the game, a solo shot that cleared the right field wall, cutting the Sam Houston lead to 2-1.

Sam Houston put up another run in the third when Roy Merritt scored during a run-down between first and second base.

Texas State (27-17, 11-7 SLC) came to bat in the third down two runs, but quickly got on the board as Jose Rodriguez drew a lead-off walk, followed by Anson's second homer of the weekend, a two-run blast over the right field wall that tied the game 3-3. The Bobcats gained their first lead of the game in the third when Jared Bunn scored on an RBI single for Cassidy Dresch, making the score to 4-3 after three complete.

The Bobcats big inning came in the fourth, getting all of their runs with two outs, beginning with Anson's RBI single to score Dominic Ramos. Bunn and Elliott Babcock followed Anson's hit with a pair of walks, loading the bases for Cannon. Cannon squared up on a pitch and smashed a line drive over the center field wall for his second homer of the day.

Cannon proved he wasn't done for the day in the sixth inning, when he laced a single through the right side, scoring Bunn from second. The Bobcats had opened a 10-3 lead through five innings.

Sam Houston made things interesting by putting up four in the top of the seventh, beginning with a two-out RBI single for Isaias Garcia and a Hatfield double that scored two. The Bearkats' fourth run of the seventh came when Karl Krailo scored on a wild pitch, making the score 10-7 in favor of Texas State heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Texas State was held scoreless in the home half of the seventh, and Sam Houston was also held off the board in the top of the eighth. The Bobcats added an insurance run in the eighth when Dresch singled home Anson, giving the Bobcats an 11-7 lead into the game's final inning.

Sam Houston was able to load the bases on Texas State reliever Jason Baca, but Tyler Bryant came in and got a ground ball to first, ending the game and giving Bryant his first save of the season.

Anson and Cannon each made a strong case for the best day at the plate. Anson went three-for-five with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored. Cannon was three-for-three at the plate, with a pair of home runs, two runs scored and an intentional walk. Cannon's home runs paired with his RBI single gave the Bobcat slugger six RBIs on the afternoon. Dresch was two-for-four at the plate with two RBIs, and Babcock went two-for-three with two runs scored for the `Cats. Bunn scored three runs in the game, going 0-for-one with four walks in the game.

Bobby Sawicki moved his record to 5-2 with the win, going six innings with seven hits, three runs, two walks and five strike outs. The five fanned batsmen put Sawicki just eight shy of tying Texas State's all-time career strike out mark of 233.

Sam Houston starter Matt Langwell took the loss for the Bearkats, dropping his record to 1-3 on the season.

Texas State will return to the diamond on Wednesday, as the Bobcats travel north on I-35 to Disch-Falk Field for a 6:15 contest with 1st-ranked Texas. The game with the Longhorns can be heard on KTSW, 89.9 FM, as well as world-wide on the Internet through College Sports Pass at www.txstatebobcats.com.