Feb. 26, 2006

Box Score

HOUSTON - Luke Cannon went 3-for-3 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored, but Texas State could not overcome nine stranded base runners in a 3-2 loss Sunday to No. 2 Rice at Reckling Park in Houston.

Bobcat freshman pitcher Mike Hart took the loss, dropping his record to 0-1 in his first decision of the season, while Joe Savery picked up the win for Rice (10-2) to improve to 2-1.

Texas State (3-9) stayed alive until its last at bat in the game, as pinch-hitter Elliott Babcock drew a lead-off walk to open the ninth inning.

Adam Witek came on to pinch run for the `Cats, but was picked off by Rice pitcher Cole St. Clair, and St. Clair, who earned his first save of the season, went on to put the next two Bobcat batters down on strikes to end the game.

Rice never fell behind in the game, scoring in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by designated hitter Josh Rodriguez that scored Tyler Henley from third.

Texas State answered to tie the game in the next inning, when Cannon's bunt single to the left side of the infield loaded the bases for Bobcat catcher Dawid Bednarek.

Bednarek lifted a fly ball into center, deep enough for David Wood to cross the plate from third and tie the game at 1-1, but the Owls went back on top in the fourth inning, as Jordan Dodson scored on Brian Friday's bunt single to third.

Bobcat third baseman Cody Merrell's errant throw allowed the Owl runners to move into scoring position on the play, but after a walk loaded the bases, Aaron Luna ripped a line drive into the glove of Bobcat second baseman Steven Siers, who flipped the ball to first for the inning-ending double play.

Rice went up two runs in the bottom of the seventh when following a 14-minute sun-glare delay, Danny Lehman scored on Greg Buchanan's two-out RBI base hit to left to make the score 3-1.

The Bobcat defense was able to save a second run on the play, as Merrell cut Kyle Jones' throw off and fired to Bednarek at the plate to put out Luna and end the inning.

Cannon narrowed the Owl lead to one in the eighth, blasting St. Clair's 1-0 offering over the wall in right-center to make the score 3-2, but Rice looked to add more distance to the score in the home half of the eighth, putting its first two batters on base.

Kyle Gembler's first pitch got away from Bednarek behind the plate, but the Bobcat senior catcher gathered the ball quickly and fired to Merrell at third catch Dodson stealing for the inning's second out. Gembler then forced Friday to pop out to Wood at first.

The Owls ended the Bobcat threat with a quick ninth to get the win.

Cannon and Bednarek had Texas State's only RBIs in the game and Wood and Cannon scored, while Rice was led at the plate by Rodriguez and Friday, who each recorded two base hits and an RBI.

Savery pitched seven innings to get the Rice win, recording nine strike outs and three walks.

Texas State continues non-conference play Tuesday at 6:30 against nationally ranked Baylor, and the Bobcats open Southland Conference competition Friday at Stephen F. Austin.