Feb. 24, 2008

Final Stats

Edinburg, Tx. - Three strikeouts from Josh Walter at the bottom of the ninth inning shut down all threats of a comeback, as the Texas State Bobcats took a 5-4 win over Sam Houston State Sunday night in Edinburg. The game-winning run was in place for the 'Kats, but the veteran's arm was hot and the Bobcats improve to a perfect record, taking all three contest at the Al Ogletree Classic.

Texas State opened with a 2-0 advantage over Sam Houston after Paul Goldschmidt truly cleaned up with two outs on the board. The four-slot homered to plate Laurn Randell who had reached on a right field single.

In the bottom of the third, SHSU posted its two-run rally after consecutive single shots to the opposing corners of the outfield from Seth Hammock and Ryan Trevino. Keith Stein knocked in Hammock on a double, shifting Trevino to third and on a Todd Sebek sacrifice fly, Trevino crossed for the `Kats.

With a tie game at hand, the Bobcat newcomers opened the frame with Lance Loftin and Jason Martinson on second and third after the latter doubled down the left field line, shifting Loftin from his single shot. Two singles from Jerry Cervantes and Adam Witek plated the newcomers, but Cervantes was thrown out at third to retire the inning.

The `Kats followed in the same inning with a second RBI due to a sacrifice fly, sending Heath Pugh across the plate, with Hammock earning the tally.

Up 4-3, Spenser Dennis drew a walk to lead off the seventh inning and crossed for the game-winning run on a Randell single to left field.

Sam attempted the comeback in the final inning of the game, with Ryan Weber opening on a double in right field. Walter walked Stein to put the potential winning run on base and Sebek singled to score Weber, the `Kats final run.

Zach Tritz (1-0) was credited with his first win of the season, throwing 6.0 innings with two strike outs. Kyle Gembler and Aaron Taylor both saw time on the mound, with Taylor recording his first career strikeout.

The Bobcats recorded 11 hits to the `Kats eight. Thomas Field tallied the lone triple of the game, gong 1-4 for the night, while Randell went 3-4 with a single RBI. Both Loftin and Cervantes went 2-4, earning two and one RBI respectively.

Will Skelton took the loss for Sam Houston State, throwing 4.0 innings allowing eight hits and four runs.

The Bobcats will take the field again Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Houston before opening at Bobcat Field in a series with New Mexico. The home opener begins Friday at 6 p.m.