April 9, 2005

Box Score

ARLINGTON - Texas State gave up seven second-inning runs, and Grant Varnell pitched 6.1 innings of four-run baseball, as Texas-Arlington beat the Bobcats 8-4 at Clay Gould Ballpark.

Things looked good early for Texas State, as the Bobcats scored three in the top of the first inning. Kyle Anson and Nolan Mast grabbed a pair of singles, and Anson scored the game's first run on a balk by Varnell.

Kyle Jones followed the balk with an RBI single, and Jose Rodriguez tabbed an RBI on his infield single to short. Texas State led 3-0 through the game's first inning.

In the UTA second, Ryan Nelson led off with a double, and Daniel Macha brought him home with a triple. The Mavericks tied the game after Macha scored and David McLeod brought home Aaron Batlle on a single up the middle, chasing Texas State starter Chris Jean after just an inning and a third.

UT-Arlington piled on four more runs on two RBI singles and a two-RBI double, making the score 7-3 through two innings. UTA added one more run in the third on Newman's RBI fielder's choice.

Texas State was held off of the scoreboard until the top of the seventh, scoring a single run when Rodriguez scored on a Doug Pearce base hit through the middle.

Offensively, the Bobcats were led by Pearce, Rodriguez and Anson, who all went two-for-four on the afternoon. Rodriguez, Kyle Jones and Pearce each ended up with one RBI.

Jean took the loss for the Bobcats, dropping his record to 4-4 on the season, while Varnell got the Maverick win, moving his record to 3-2. Dillon Farish pitched 2.2 shut out innings to earn the save for the Mavericks. Jarod Garza pitched 5.1 shut-out innings in relief for Texas State, giving up four hits and striking out one.

The Bobcats fell below .500 in the Southland Conference for the first time this season, dropping to 5-6 in the SLC and 20-15 overall. The SLC win put UTA at 9-2 in the conference, 19-16 overall.

The Bobcats will attempt to avoid the sweep Sunday, as Bobby Sawicki will get the start for Texas State. UTA will counter on the hill with Michael Gardner.

Sunday's game time has been moved up to noon, and can be heard on 89.9 FM, KTSW, as well as world wide on the Internet at www.txstatebobcats.com.