May 10, 2007

Box Score

HUNTSVILLE - A throw home that got away from Bobcat catcher Ashton Peters coupled with a two-run home run by Aimee Murray pushed No. 3 seed Texas State to the brink of elimination as the `Cats fell 4-0 to No. 4 seed UTSA in the first round of the Southland Conference Softball Tournament.

The Bobcats got the tying run to the plate with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Lacey Duncan struck out and Amy Krueger flew out to end the game.

SLC Pitcher of the Year Ragan Blake pitched six strong innings, but ran into trouble in the seventh when the Roadrunners got runners on first and second with Jessica Rogers at the plate.

Rogers lined a hard single to center, and Peters couldn't handle Kristina Tello's throw home, allowing one run across as the ball skipped away. Texas State recovered as Leanne Risberg tried to score the second run of the inning to throw to Blake covering the plate, but a hard collision jarred the ball loose as Risberg was ruled safe to make it 2-0.

Murray then sent a deep fly ball over the center field fence to finish the scoring at 4-0.

Texas State had multiple chances to score early in the game, advancing a runner into scoring position four times before the final inning, but each time UTSA starter Janielle Nickels worked out of all of them.

Blake (23-14) allowed four earned runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out eight. She now has 221 strikeouts on the season, passing Northwestern State's Amanda Glenn for the highest total in the SLC. UTSA's Nickels (13-12) earned the shutout by allowing only six hits and two walks.

The Bobcats now must defeat No. 1 seed Texas-Arlington to avoid being eliminated on Friday with an 11 a.m. start time. Texas State dropped two out of three to the Mavs in the conference opening series for both teams. Friday's game will be broadcast online and available for free listening at txstatebobcats.com.