Feb. 14, 2006

Box Score

FORT WORTH, Texas - Texas State pitchers retired 19 straight to end the game and Cody Merrell recorded the first Bobcat home run of the season in Tuesday's fifth inning, as Texas State took down No. 18 TCU 5-1 at Lupton Stadium in Fort Worth.

Texas State (2-5) recorded its second win this season over a Mountain West opponent, while TCU (2-2) fell to .500 on the year with the four-run loss.

The Horned Frogs scored the game's first run in the second inning, when Keith Conlon reached first on a walk, followed by two Kyle Gembler wild pitches that moved the TCU right fielder to third base.

Pinch-hitter-turned-catcher Hunt Woodruff followed with a one-out double that fell under the outstretched glove of Texas State left fielder Elliott Babcock, but the Bobcat sophomore quickly retrieved the ball and delivered a near-perfect throw to third baseman Adam Witek to get Woodruff, who attempted to stretch the double into three bases.

The `Cats ended the Horned Frog threat when Matt Carpenter flied out to right, ending the inning with TCU up 1-0.

Both teams went without a run in the third, but Texas State would strike in the fourth, beginning with a one-out single from designated hitter Aaron Garza.

Garza moved to second when Kyle Jones reached on TCU shortstop Bryan Kervin's fielding error, and Merrell followed with a single to load the bases for right fielder Luke Cannon.

Cannon lifted a shallow fly ball into right, but it was deep enough to score Garza from third, tying the game at 1-1 and leaving runners on the corners.

Texas State's second fourth-inning run came on a wild pitch that scored Jones and moved Merrell to second base.

Dawid Bednarek was then intentionally walked and Pat Crumpton drew a full-count pass to load the bases, and Witek hit a ground ball deep into the third base hole for an infield single that scored Merrell to put Texas State up 3-1.

The Bobcats would further extend the margin in the fifth inning, when Jones laced a two-out single up the middle, bringing Merrell to bat.

Jones stole second base on the first pitch of the at bat, and Merrell took care of the rest, jumping on a 1-1 offering and sending the pitch over the left field wall for the first Bobcat home run of the season. The homer, which was Merrell's first in a Bobcat uniform, put Texas State on top for good, 5-1.

Bobcat pitchers took over to finish the game, retiring the final 19 Horned Frog hitters on the way to the 5-1 win.

Texas State used five hurlers in the game, including Justin Fiske who picked up the win to even his record at 1-1.

Fiske tossed three perfect innings with a pair of strike outs, whle Jason Baca, Chris Armijo and Mike Hart tackled the final three, retiring nine-straight Horned Frog hitters to finish.

Three Bobcats produced multiple-hit nights for the `Cats, led by Merrell's 3-for-4 outing. Merrell scored a pair of runs and drove in two with a home run.

Witek finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, while Garza was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Jones scored two runs for the Bobcats, and Cannon produced the team's other RBI.

TCU scattered three hits through the game, as Steven Trouth, Kervin and Woodruff each had base hits in the loss. Woodruff finished with the club's only RBI, and Conlon scored the Frogs' only run in the game.

TCU starter Zach Ashwook suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 on the year, giving up three runs, none earned with a walk.

Texas State returns home Friday to open a two-game series with Prairie View A&M. First pitch Friday is slated for 6:30 p.m. at Bobcat Field.