May 25, 2005

Box Score

NATCHITOCHES, La. - Texas State got 7.2 innings out of Bobby Sawicki and scored five runs in the bottom of the first, but Texas-San Antonio scored seven unanswered runs to beat the Bobcats 8-7 at Brown-Stroud Field in the opening round of the Southland Conference Tournament.

Texas State (32-25) came out swinging, putting up five runs on five hits in the first inning, beginning with a lead-off single by Dominic Ramos. Cassidy Dresch then bunted Ramos over to second, and Nolan Mast lifted his seventh home run of the year to give the Bobcats an early 2-0 lead.

Following a one-out walk for Kyle Anson, Elliott Babcock ripped a single on a hit-and-run to give the `Cats runners at first and second with Kyle Jones at the plate. Jones jumped all over an Aaron Rodriguez offering for his fourth home run of the year, a three-run shot that gave the Bobcats a 5-0 lead.

Texas-San Antonio (24-32) got on the board for the first time in the fourth, when J.R. Voyles scored on a Sawicki wild pitch. Texas State answered the Roadrunner run in the bottom half of the fourth, when Jones notched his fourth RBI of the game on a single that scored Anson from third.

Leading 6-1 through four, Texas State added to its lead in the sixth, when Dresch stole third and scored on a throwing error by Roadrunner catcher Chris Lewis, giving the `Cats a 7-1 lead heading into the seventh.

In the top of the seventh, UTSA got within five when Lee Todesco scored on a double to left by Eric Moreno. The Roadrunners got three more in the eighth on Todesco's RBI double and an RBI single by Michael McKennon, cutting the Texas State lead to two, 7-5, heading into the bottom of the eighth.

UT-San Antonio held the Bobcats off of the scoreboard in the ninth, and went into the ninth trailing by two with reserve outfielder Joel Doucet coming to the plate.

Bobcat closer Scott Moore got Doucet to ground out, but UTSA would put the next six batters on base, and the Roadrunners were able to chase Moore from the ballgame.

With one out, Sean Danielson singled into left center, which was followed by a two-run homer by Voyles that tied the game 7-7. Ryan Crew would then hit what proved to be the game-winning home run, knocking Moore's offering over the wall to give UTSA an 8-7 lead.

Roadrunner closer Jason Veccio came into the game and allowed only one base runner, grabbing his sixth save of the season in the UTSA win. Moore took the loss for the Bobcats, dropping his record to 4-6, while Josh Ruffin got the win, improving to 2-0 on the season.

Jones had four RBIs for the Bobcats in his two-for-five day, while Babcock had a run scored in his three-for-five outing. Anson scored two runs for Texas State, going two-for-four on the afternoon, while Dawid Bednarek and Ramos each had two hits in the game.

Texas State will play the winner of the Southeastern Louisiana vs. Northwestern State game at 3 p.m., Thursday at Brown-Stroud Field in Natchitoches.