April 23, 2006

Box Score

HUNTSVILLE - David Wood had three doubles and drove in two runs, but Texas State was unable to overcome a five-run Sam Houston State second in a 7-3 loss to the Bearkats Sunday in Huntsville.

Texas State (22-22, 14-7) rallied late, but never got within four runs of the Bearkats after the second-inning SHSU rally.

Sam Houston State (22-20, 11-10) took its first lead of the series in the bottom of the first, loading the bases with a pair of singles and a Bobcat fielding error before Matt Fry lifted a fly ball deep into center to score Clint Mann, putting the Bearkats on top 1-0.

Sam Houston added to its lead and chased Bobcat starter Mike Hart in the second inning, scoring first on a solo homer by Daniel Cox, and next on a Jeremy Holzbach three-run blast that scored Gregory O'Neill and Clint Mann to make the score 5-0.

The second-inning trouble would not end with home runs, as the Bearkats loaded the bases and Ryan Trevino blooped a single into right for the fifth Bearkat run of the inning and sixth of the game.

In the third, O'Neill reached on Texas State's second fielding error and got to third on a single by Mann. O'Neill came home one batter later on a Holzback sac fly to center that pushed SHSU ahead 7-0 through three.

Texas State chipped at the lead in the top of the fourth, as Wood doubled home Luke Cannon from second, and Heath Keel followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Cody Merrell to shave the lead to 7-2.

The Bobcats would claw further at the Sam Houston lead in the eighth, as Cannon reached on a one-out walk and was bunted to second by Merrell.

Wood brought Cannon around for the second time with his third double of the game, cutting the lead to 7-3.

After a double-play ground ball ended the Bearkat eighth, Pat Crumpton led off the ninth with a double to right field, while pinch-hitter Jared Bunn was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second.

The rally would end, however, as Bearkat reliever Luke Prihoda settled himself to close the game, forcing the next three batters into outs to preserve the four-run SHSU win.

Zach Adkisson tossed eight innings to pick up the Bearkat win and improve to 4-2, while Hart took the loss for the `Cats to fall to 2-2. Bobcat reliever Chris Hill tossed a career-high 6.2 innings to close the game, striking out four while allowing one run.

Wood finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Cannon scored twice on the day. Mann, Holzbach and O'Neill each posted two hits for the Bearkats in the win.

Texas State will close its four-game road trip Tuesday, when the Bobcats travel to Rice for a 7 p.m. contest at Reckling Park before returning home Friday to take on Lamar at Bobcat Field.