March 18, 2007
Final Stats
SAN MARCOS- Senior Justin Fiske and a pair of home runs allowed Texas State to conclude the first weekend in Southland Conference play with a 8-1 victory over the Nicholls State Colonels on Sunday afternoon. The Bobcats took the three-game series, picking up a 8-1 win on March 16 and a 8-2 win on March 17. Texas State is 3-0 in the SLC and 16-7 overall.
Fiske threw a career high and set a new school record, striking out 17 batters in eight innings of work. The previous record was held by William Brunson who struck out 14 against Texas A&M on February 12, 1991. Fiske started the Bobcats off right, striking out nine batters in the first four innings. He allowed four hits, one earned run and walked two in the win.
The Texas State bats didn't warm up until the bottom of the fourth, when they finally got on the scoreboard with two runs. First baseman David Wood walked, advancing to second when right fielder Aaron Garza was hit by a pitch. Third baseman Adam Witek singled to center field, scoring Wood and advancing Garza to second. A double steal put Garza in the position to score off of a wild pitch.
The bats came alive in the fifth, as they scored four runs off of four hits. Ben Theriot and Casey Guest both singled, occupying first and second. Thomas Field belted out his second home run of the season, putting the Bobcats up 5-0. After Field cleared the bases, Laurn Randell walked and was brought in by Wood, who doubled down the right field line.
Nicholls State picked up one run in the sixth, cutting the Bobcat lead to 6-1. Colonel shortstop Keith Kulbeth singled and scored off of a Brant Bourdreaux single.
Garza extended the lead, adding his second home run of the season in the eighth. Witek rounded out the scoring, picking up the final Texas State run. Witek singled and was brought in by an Elliott Babcock double.
Eric Weaver struck out the last two batters to close the game. Weaver and Fiske threw for a combined 19 strikeouts, setting a new team school record. The previous record was set in 2003, as the Texas State pitching staff faced California, striking out 17 batters on February 15th.
In addition to hitting his second home run, Field went two-for-five at the plate. While Witek and Babcock were both two-for-four at the plate with one RBI a piece.
Texas State takes a break from conference opponents, facing the Texas Longhorns on Tuesday, March 20th. Game time is set for 6:15 p.m. at Disch-Falk Field.
