March 4, 2006

Stats

NACOGDOCHES - Texas State scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning and three Bobcats posted multiple-hit outings in a 7-3 win Saturday at Stephen F. Austin.

With the win, Texas State improved to 4-11 on the year and 1-1 in Southland Conference competition. The teams will decide the series Sunday at 1 p.m. in Nacogdoches.

After three scoreless innings to open the game, Stephen F. Austin (4-12, 1-1) took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth, beginning with a single, stolen base and a sacrifice bunt that moved Steven Hill to third base.

Chris Smith then singled into right to score Hill, and after stealing second base, Smith crossed the plate on an RBI single from Buck Britton. Britton would later score on Zach Gardner's RBI double, giving the Lumberjacks a 3-0 lead after four complete.

The Bobcats fought back in the fifth, starting with Dawid Bednarek's one-out single into right field. Thomas Field then singled into left to move Bednarek to second, and Heath Keel brought the `Cats within one on an RBI double that made the score 3-2.

With Keel at second, Aaron Garza drew a pinch-hit walk, and Cody Merrell was hit by his league-leading ninth pitch of the year to load the bases.

Texas State tied the game when Hill, the Lumberjack catcher, made an errant pick-off throw to first, enabling Keel to score from third and placing Garza and Merrell in scoring position.

David Wood would then clear the bases, ripping a single into center field to score Garza and Merrell.

Texas State held the 5-3 lead until the seventh, and the Bobcats added two insurance scores in the stretch inning, beginning when Wood again came to the plate with Garza and Merrell in scoring position.

Wood posted his second two-RBI single of the game, again putting the ball into center field to put Texas State up 7-3.

Kyle Gembler tossed the final 2.2 innings, shutting down the Lumberjack offense to secure the Bobcat win. Jason Baca picked up the win for the `Cats, tossing the middle 2.1 innings to improve to 1-1. SFA reliever Sammy Hardwick took the loss for the Lumberjacks, dropping to 0-2.

Wood finished the day 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs, while Merrell scored two runs in a 2-for-3 day at the plate, and Garza also crossed the plate twice in the win.

Britton finished the day as the only SFA batter to post multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Bobcat starter Dan Donaldson tossed four innings, giving up five hits and all three Lumberjack runs while striking out three in the game.