April 30, 2006

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Heath Keel went 2-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored, while seven of Texas State's nine starting batters carded at least one base hit in a 12-9 marathon win over league-leading Lamar Sunday at Bobcat Field.

Lamar (31-15, 18-6 SLC) looked to take command with a 2-0 lead in the game's first inning, as Colin DeLome singled home Erik Kanaby and Jo Jo Haney crossed the plate on an errant throw by Bobcat second baseman Pat Crumpton.

Texas State (24-24, 16-8) pulled even with the Cardinals in the bottom of the first, as Cassidy Dresch walked to lead off and Aaron Garza reached on an error by Haney at third.

With runners at first and second, Cody Merrell legged out an infield single, followed by Keel's two-out, bases loaded double down the left-field line that scored two to tie the game at 2-2.

The Cardinals would jump back on the scoreboard in the third, loading the bases before Will Henderson singled through the middle to plate two and put Lamar on top 4-2. Later in the inning, Matt Lambeth ripped a two-RBI single through the right side, giving Lamar a 6-2 advantage.

Texas State wasted no time in lighting its half of the scoreboard, starting the third inning with a Garza single and a Luke Cannon walk that brought Merrell to the plate.

Merrell slapped a ground ball to short, putting Cannon out at second, but on the double-play throw, the ball sailed toward the Lamar dugout, advancing Merrell to second and scoring Garza to cut the Lamar lead to 6-3.

David Wood then singled Merrell to third, and both runners crossed to make the score 6-5 on Keel's triple to right center. Keel later tied the game when after a Dawid Bednarek walk, Crumpton tripled to left center on a ball that got past the Lamar outfield and rolled to the wall, putting Texas State on top 7-6.

Crumpton would plate the inning's final run on a balk, leaving the Bobcats up 8-6 through three innings.

The Lamar fourth began with a Colt Crawford walk, and the Lamar shortstop later put Lamar within one, crossing the plate on DeLome's triple into the right-field gap. DeLome tied the game at 8-8 one batter later, coming home on a Dan Hernandez single to right field.

Texas State took back the advantage in the bottom of the fourth, leading off the inning with walks by Cannon and Merrell, followed by a sacrifice bunt attempt that loaded the bases after an errant throw from the Cardinal pitcher.

With no outs and the bases loaded, Keel walked on a full-count pitch to put the `Cats on top 9-8, and Bednarek lifted a fly ball into right that scored Merrell to run the lead to 10-8. Thomas Field's two-RBI, fourth-inning single plated Keel and Wood, putting Texas State up 12-8 to end the frame.

Lamar chipped at the Bobcat lead in the ninth, as DeLome crossed on a C.J. Ebarb single, but Justin Fisked slammed the door on the Cardinal rally by forcing a ground-ball out that secured the 12-9 win.

Chris Hill got the win for Texas State to even his record at 1-1, while Brian Needham took the loss for Lamar, falling to 1-3 on the year.

DeLome went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored, while Hernandez also went 3-for-5 in the loss. Kanaby joined the 3-for-5 duo with a 2-for-4, one run outing.

Field and Crumpton finished the day with two RBIs each, while Garza, Merrell, Wood and Keel each scored twice.

Texas State will resume action Tuesday, when the Bobcats travel to Texas for a 6:15 first pitch at Disch-Falk Field.