March 14, 2006

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Keith Conlon blasted a two-run home run in the first inning and TCU added one more in the top of the second to beat Texas State 3-1 Tuesday at Bobcat Field.

TCU (10-9) never trailed in the game, as Steven Trout singled to lead off the game. Bobcat starter Ryan Bennett forced a ground out and a fly ball to left, but with two outs in the inning, Conlon jumped on Bennett's 3-1 delivery, knocking the ball over the right-field wall and on to the football practice surface.

The Frogs added to the lead in the second, as Austin Adams doubled to lead off the inning and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt.

Corey Steglich would then single through the right side for his first-career hit and RBI, putting TCU on top 3-1.

Texas State (9-12) climbed back into the game in the sixth, starting with a Thomas Field lead-off walk and a bunt single by Heath Keel. Keel was then put out at second on Luke Cannon's fielders' choice ground ball, leaving runners at the corners with two outs.

Cody Merrell needed only two pitches in his sixth-inning at bat, ripping an 0-1 offering into right center to score field from third, narrowing the Horned Frog lead to 3-1.

The Bobcats threatened in the seventh inning, as Kyle Jones led off with a single into left, but Jones was coaxed into a 1-3-6 caught stealing by TCU pitcher Omar Arif.

Cody Ross and Lance Schramm followed with outs, deflating the Bobcat scoring opportunity in the inning.

Arif sat down three Bobcats in the eighth inning and Jake Arrieta came on in the ninth and put the `Cats down in order to get his first save of the season.

TCU starter Shawn Ferguson got the win, tossing six innings, while Bennett took the loss for Texas State. Bennett dropped to 0-2 after giving up all three Horned Frog runs in two innings pitched.

Bobcat reliever Justin Fiske pitched the third, fourth and fifth innings, retiring all nine batters he faced, including eight consecutive strike outs.

Conlon's home run represented two of TCU's three RBIs, while Steglich finished with the other run driven in, going 1-for-3 on the day. Trout finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate, representing the only two-hit performance for TCU in the contest.

Keel and Jones led Texas State with a pair of 2-for-4 outings, while Merrell's sixth-inning RBI scored Field for the Bobcats' only run in the game.

Texas State will continue its six-game homestand Friday, when the `Cats open a three-game series with SLC rival Southeastern Louisiana at 6:30 p.m.