April 1, 2006

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Luke Cannon finished a single away from hitting for the cycle with two RBIs and two runs scored, but Texas State surrendered four Louisiana-Monroe home runs in an 11-7 loss Saturday at Bobcat Field.

Cannon and Cassidy Dresch went 3-for-4, and Dresch scored twice in a two-RBI outing.

Texas State (13-19, 9-5 SLC) got on the board in the first inning for the second time in the series, as Dresch reached on a lead-off single and Cannon belted a one-out home run to left that put the `Cats on top 2-0. Cannon's homer was his sixth of the year.

The Bobcats added one more in the bottom of the third, when Thomas Field hit his first-career home run over the left-field wall to put Texas State on top 3-0.

ULM (5-20, 4-5) narrowed Texas State's lead to one in the fourth inning, and the Indians took the lead for good in the fifth, scoring four runs to go up 6-3.

Matt Angel, who scored three times in a 3-for-4 performance, led off with a single and moved to third when Steve Lawler singled through the left side.

Lawler would be put out at second on a fielders' choice by Andy Jones. Jones and Angel scored one batter later, when Ben Soignier hit the first of four Indian home runs in the game.

Josh Morrison hit the second homer on the next at bat, a solo shot that put ULM up 6-3. The Indians took a 7-3 lead when Angel scored on a double-play ball in the sixth.

Texas State got back within striking distance in the seventh inning, starting with singles from Dawid Bednarek and Pat Crumpton. Dresch put the `Cats within three on an RBI single through the middle that scored Bednarek from second.

ULM answered the Bobcat run in the top of the eighth, as Lawler posted a two-run home run that scored Angel, and Soignier hit his second of the day to score Jones, giving ULM its largest margin of the game at 11-4.

Texas State rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the eighth, as Cannon tripled to lead off the inning and came home on a David Wood RBI single to center. Wood later scored when Bednarek lifted a single into left center to make the score 11-6.

The Bobcats loaded the bases in the ninth when Cody Merrell was hit by his 13th pitch of the season, and Dresch later scored the game's final run from third base on a wild pitch.

ULM reliever A.J. Ford finished the game by striking out Wood, gaining his second save of the season, while ULM starter James Stephens improved to 3-1 with the win.

Bobcat starter Dan Donaldson picked up the loss for Texas State, evening his record at 3-3 on the season. Texas State used five pitchers in the game.

The Bobcats and Indians will decide the series Sunday, with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. at Bobcat Field. The game can be heard exclusively on the Internet at www.txstatebobcats.com (through CSTV's College Sports Pass), and live statistics will be available through CSTV's Game Tracker at www.txstatebobcats.com.