Feb. 11, 2006

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - New Mexico scored four tenth-inning runs and Lobo reliever Chace Lankford pitched 1.2 scoreless innings as New Mexico knocked off Texas State 7-3 Saturday at Bobcat Field.

New Mexico (2-1) pulled even in the series with Saturday's win, while Texas State fell to 1-4 on the year with the loss.

Ryan Bennett forced New Mexico to leave a runner at third to open the game, and the Bobcats jumped on top in the bottom half of the first on RBIs from Luke Cannon and Kyle Jones.

Cannon's first-inning single brought home Thomas Field from second and Jones topped off Texas State's opening-inning scoring with a fielders' choice that plated Cannon from third.

New Mexico would strike back in the fourth inning when first baseman Chris Carlson lifted a fly ball into center scoring Jay Russell from third, making the score 2-1.

The Lobos would take the lead in the seventh, scoring two runs on an RBI bunt single and a double steal.

New Mexico pinch runner Derek Pilkington scored the inning's first run when Ian Hollick popped a bunt over the head of Bobcat reliever Chris Hill, reaching first on a bunt single.

On the next play, Hollick would attempt to steal second and was gunned down by Texas State catcher Dawid Bednarek, but Lobo right fielder Chris Dabbs raced across the plate on the double steal to give the Lobos a 3-2 lead.

The Bobcats managed to level the score in the ninth inning when Jones was hit by a pitch to open the inning and was moved to second on an Elliott Babcock sacrifice bunt.

Jones then reached third base when Cody Merrell laced a ground ball at New Mexico shortstop Ryan Barba. The ball popped up off of the infield dirt and hit Barba above the shoulders, enabling Merrell to leg out the infield single.

Cody Ross came on to pinch hit for Adam Witek, and in his first at-bat of the season, Ross lined a ball through the right side of the infield to bring home Jones and even the score at 3-3.

Merrell advanced to third on the play, but the next Bobcat batter, Pat Crumpton, hit a ball into left field that was played by Brandon Bingham to end the inning and send the game into an extra frame.

Hollick walked to begin the tenth inning, and was bunted over to second after Kyle Perry took the mound in place of Hill for the Bobcats.

Hollick moved to third on Drew McDonald's first base hit of the year, and the Lobo third baseman crossed the plate one at-bat later when Barba slapped a ball through the middle to give the Lobos a one-run lead.

Perry forced Bingham to fly out to center field, but with two outs, the sophomore transfer gave up two bases-loaded walks that put the Lobos up 6-3. New Mexico scratched out its final run of the game on Matt Foote's RBI bunt single, and Lankford put the `Cats down in the bottom of the tenth despite a lead-off base hit by Field.

Cannon finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Jones also produced an RBI and scored a run in a 1-for-4 day at the plate. Merrell and Field also had two-hit outings for the `Cats, each going 2-for-3 in the game. Field finished the day with a run scored and a pair of stolen bases.

New Mexico got a pair of RBIs from Carlson, and Barba went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in the Lobos' second win of the year. New Mexico starter Darren Coltrinari tossed 6.1 innings with four strike outs, but did not figure in the decision, as Lankford earned the win after striking out one in 1.2 innings pitched.

Bennett tossed a career-best 6.1 innings for the `Cats, giving up three earned runs and striking out six, while Hill picked up the loss to drop his record to 0-1 after striking out three in 2.2 innings pitched.

The Bobcats and Lobos will decide the series Sunday at Bobcat Field, as first-pitch in the series rubber-match is slated for 1 p.m. in San Marcos.