May 24, 2006

Box Score

BEAUMONT - Luke Cannon hit his record-tying 17th home run of the season to lead a Bobcat offense that produced 11 hits and nine RBIs in a 9-3 win over Texas-Arlington in the opening round of the Southland Conference baseball tournament at Lamar's Vincent Beck Stadium.

Texas State (29-28) etched its fifth win in six tries Wednesday, while UTA (25-33) was led by Adam Moore's 3-for-5, one RBI outing in the loss.

The Mavs scored first, as David McLeod crossed on Moore's RBI single to center, but Texas State responded in the bottom of the inning with four runs to take a 4-1 lead.

Cassidy Dresch led off with a single in the Bobcat half, followed by a Kyle Jones fielders' choice that put Dresch on second by-way of a UTA fielding error, and Cannon moved both runners up a base into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.

Cody Merrell then singled into right to tie the game, and David Wood gave the Bobcats a one-run lead with an RBI double down the right-field line. Dawid Bednarek capped the inning with a single to right center, scoring both Merrell and Wood to put Texas State on top by three.

The Bobcats added to the lead in the second inning when Dresch produced a one-out single, followed two batters later by Cannon's record-tying homer over the right-field wall that made the score 6-1.

Texas State's seventh run in the game came in the fourth, as Merrell singled through the right side to score Thomas Field, but UTA climbed back into the game with two runs in the top of the fifth that shaved Texas State's lead to 7-3.

The `Cats slammed the door on the Mavericks in the remaining four innings, however, as Jarod Garza tossed 3.1 innings of one-hit, shut-out relief.

The Bobcat offense put its finishing touches on the day-one win in the eighth, as Jones ripped a bases-loaded single that scored Casey Guest, and Cannon produced his third RBI in the game with a sac fly that plated Field to put Texas State up by the final margin.

Scott Moore tossed his second-straight 5.2-inning outing, striking out eight en route to his tenth win of the year, ranking third all-time for the Bobcats.

Cannon went 1-for-3 with three RBIs, while Dresch finished with two runs score in a 3-for-3 day at the plate. Merrell went 2-for-5 with a run scored and two RBIs, while Wood ended the day with a run scored and an RBI in a 2-for-5 day at the plate.

Field scored twice to cap Texas State's productivity in the opening-round win.

Texas State will continue tournament play Thursday, taking on Lamar at 7 p.m. in Beaumont.