April 28, 2006

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Luke Cannon went 4-for-5 with two home runs and a career-high six RBIs while Texas State totaled four home runs in a 14-6 win Friday over Southland Conference leader Lamar.

Texas State (23-23, 15-7) fell behind early, giving up six runs in the second inning, but Lamar (30-14, 17-5) was unable to hang on to the lead in losing its first back-to-back SLC games of the season.

Cannon put the Bobcats on top 2-0 in the bottom of the first, belting a one-out homer over the wall in dead center with Cassidy Dresch on first.

Texas State's lead would not stick, however, as the Cardinals started the top of the second with a walk and a base hit to put runners at first and second. Third baseman Jo Jo Haney then doubled into right center to cut the lead to one, followed by an Erik Kanaby RBI single that tied the game at 2-2.

Colin Delome gave Lamar a one-run lead with a single into center, and the Cardinals went on to post three more runs in the inning, leaving the frame up 6-2.

After Kyle Jones opened the third with a lead-off walk, Cannon struck again to put the `Cats within two, this time lifting an opposite-field shot over the wall in left to make the score 6-4.

Texas State would take the lead in the fourth, as Pat Crumpton led off with a single and moved to second on a steal. Dawid Bednarek then drew a walk, and Thomas Field loaded the bases with a no-out bunt single.

Jones earned his second free pass of the game two batters later to score Crumpton, and the Bobcats took the lead when Cannon drilled a ball off of the center-field wall, scoring Field and Bednarek to put Texas State up 7-6.

Cody Merrell gave Texas State its fourth run of the inning, scoring Jones on a ground-out to second base that made the score 8-6.

The Bobcats added further to the lead in the fifth, when Bednarek and Casey Guest reached to open the rally before Field drilled a 3-1 pitch to left center for a three-run homer, putting Texas State on top 11-6.

Dresch walked to follow the homer and was moved to third on a Cannon double before scoring on a wild pitch to extend the Bobcat led to 12-6. Cannon, who moved to third base on the play, scored one batter later when Merrell singled through the right side to put Texas State up 13-6.

The final Bobcat run in the game would come in the eighth, as Aaron Garza belted a solo shot to left center, running the Bobcat lead to 14-6.

In addition to Cannon's big night at the plate, Merrell finished the game 2-for-5 with two RBIs, while Field drove in three and scored twice in a 2-for-3 outing. Bednarek, who scored twice, went 3-for-3, while Garza went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Lamar had two batters go for multiple-hit outings, led by Kanaby's 3-for-4 outing and Delome's 2-for-5 performance.

Scott Moore picked up the win despite giving up all six second-inning runs, improving his record to 8-3, while Lamar starter Steve Macfarland got the loss to drop to 6-3 on the year.

Texas State and Lamar will continue the series Saturday, with first pitch on Little League Day at Bobcat Field slated for 3 p.m.