Feb. 29, 2008

Final Stats

Final Box in PDF format

SAN MARCOS - A six-run margin set by the New Mexico Lobos early on overwhelmed a slow-hitting Texas State Bobcat team and the `Cats dropped its opening contest at home in an 11-1decision at Bobcat Field Friday evening. The team shifts to 3-2 in non-conference play, while the Lobos remain unbeaten, taking their sixth win in tonight's game.

"Its tough to have two games play out this way," said head coach Ty Harrington. "Once again, our offense wasn't there and it has to be with a team like this that's swinging the bats and putting numbers on the board."

After a scoreless opening inning of from both squads, the Lobos moved ahead with three consecutive frames of scoring to go up by six. Down 2-0 in the second, senior Jerry Cervantes singled to centerfield recording the Bobcat's first hit of the night. Elliott Babcock flew out to right field and Jason Martinson struck out to retire the inning and leave Cervantes on base.

UNM packed on four more runs across the next two innings and Texas State was held without a single hit in the following four. At the top of the sixth, the Lobos plated four, shifting their tally to ten.

"New Mexico lived up to their numbers. The team came in with a .377 batting average and showed every piece of that tonight," commented Harrington.

Off to a slow start, Texas State's rally came at the bottom of the seventh inning, countering a one hit-one run half frame by New Mexico. With Bobby Hewett on the mound, Cervantes led off the inning, ripping his pitch over the left center wall for Texas State's first run of the night.

Jon Farrow, pinch hitting for Martinson, followed with a hard-hitting single up the middle to reach and Bo Merrell replicated the motion, this time to left field. Next to bat, Adam Witek singled for the third-straight base hit with a long ball to right field. Farrow felt enough cushion from the hit and rounded the third base corner for the run, but was caught on a rope-throw from right field. Thomas Field was out on a fly to centerfield to retire the inning and Cervantes' homer would the lone run of game for Texas State and the final score for the game.

New Mexico held a 16-6 margin in the hits column over Texas State, while the Bobcats committed four errors on the night. The Lobos recorded none.

Cervantes went 2-4 in tonight's game, grabbing one RBI. Lobo Max Willett went 2-4 as well, scoring two runs and recording three RBI. Mike Hart (0-1) took the loss for Texas State. In 5.0 innings he allowed 12 hits and eight runs. Hart recorded one walk and picked up one strikeout.

Brian Borski entered in the sixth inning, allowing four hits and a two-run count and both Tyler Brundridge and Eric Weaver pitched one inning in the final frames. Brundridge tagged two strikeouts for the night.

"Tomorrow's a new game," added Harrington. "Once we get our offense going, we'll put up a battle."

Game Two of the series is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.