March 26, 2006

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Texas State rallied for a 9-6 come-from-behind victory in Sunday's series finale against McNeese State, capping off a four-run seventh on Tamara Keller's walk-off three-run home run.

In a game that saw five lead changes, Texas State survived two late-inning rallies from McNeese State to improve to a perfect 9-0 at home and 8-1 in the Southland Conference.

Texas State (21-11, 8-1) got its first scoring opportunity in the bottom half of the second when Chelsea Giroux drew a walk to load the bases with one out.

Tamara Keller's line drive to right field looked to score the first run of the game, but a full extension catch by Shayla Cormier and then a throw to first base, doubled up the `Cats to end the inning.

In the top of the third, McNeese State (10-17, 2-7) saw its first scoring threat with a runner on second and two outs.

Jana Jones sent a screaming fly ball into center field, but centerfielder Jetta Weinheimer would not be outdone by the Cowgirls rightfielder, laying out to her left to keep the game scoreless.

Texas State struck first, using a two-out rally in the bottom of the third to plate three runs off three consecutive hits.

Kristin Gunter sparked the rally, doubling down the left field line to score Ryan Kos from second. Katie Ann Trahan followed with an RBI single and Alex Newton backed her up with an RBI triple to the right field corner.

The Cowgirls would fight back in the top of the fifth and tie the score in identical fashion. With two outs in the inning and a runner on first by way of a walk, a single, walk and a base-clearing double by Jana Jones knotted the score at 3-3.

The game would go back and forth for the next three innings and wouldn't stay tied for long. Texas State stepped back in front 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth off Gunter's second double of the game that scored Kos all the way from first.

McNeese however would not buckle, taking a 5-4 lead off Carmen Sittig's pinch hit two-run home run in the top half of the sixth.

Texas State tied it at 5-5 in the bottom of the inning off three consecutive singles and a throwing error from the Cowgirls.

McNeese State stepped back in front 6-5 in the top of the seventh when a Jones single to center field scored Brooke Brodhead from second base.

The bottom half of the Texas State seventh led off with a Trahan single to right center. Jill Kloesel entered the game to pinch run for Trahan and was successfully sacrificed to second by shortstop Alex Newton. The next batter up, Karen Taylor would reach base safely on a throwing error.

With runners on the corners and one out, Taylor advanced to third and Kloesel would score to tie the game at 6-6 off a passed ball by McNeese catcher, Courtney Parks.

After a Chelsea Giroux walk and stolen base, the `Cats had runners at second and third and were threatening with Keller at bat.

Keller, the freshman from Castroville, Texas, stepped in the box and sent a deep fly ball over the left field fence to complete the come-from-behind victory for the streaking Bobcats. The home run for Keller was the second of her Texas State career, the first one coming by way of a grand slam against the College of Charleston on March 7 in San Marcos.

Texas State puts its eight-game winning streak on the line Wednesday, when they travel to College Station for a single game with No. 16 Texas A&M. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.