March 14, 2008

Final Stats

Thibodaux, La. - Signaling the seventh inning stretch, the Texas State Bobcats put five runs on the scoreboard for a sigh of relief and held on for a 10-4 victory over the Nicholls State Colonels in the opening weekend of Southland Conference play at Didier Field Friday night. Along with a successful league start, the Bobcats overall mark shifts to 9-4 with tonight's victory.

Nicholls State jumped to an early advantage on their home field, holding off the top of Texas State lineup to take their place at the plate. The Colonels took a quick 1-0 lead after sending their lead-off batter Walter Jones across the plate and maintained the margin- well into the third inning.

Adam Witek shut down the `Cats slow moving start with a single shot to shallow centerfield for Texas State's first hit of the game. Seth Webster hit Laurn Randell with a pitch and walked Jonathan Farrow to load the bases for Paul Goldschmidt. The slugger made an effort to right field and reached on an error by NSU, but the hit sent Witek across the plate for a sacrifice RBI in his favor. Ben Theriot flew out to left field in the next at-bat, plating Randell and earning the sacrifice and Jerry Cervantes followed with a slice up the middle to load the bases for the Bobcats a second time. Lance Loftin put up the third sac fly of the inning when he drove the ball to left field and sent Farrow across the plate to move Texas State ahead, 3-1.

In fighting form, the Colonels posted two more runs to tie the game with a double by T.J. Menerey. Shane Barksdale walked and Kevin Persick was hit by a pitch to open the fourth inning, giving the hitter a set of base runners.

Nicholls moved ahead to a one-run lead in the fifth inning,4-3, but a pair of doubles to left center put Texas State back at a tie game. Goldschmidt put the first mark on the board and was sent across the plate with help from Loftin. The `Cats closed out the bottom of the inning, holding NSU to four runs for the remainder of the game.

A pitching change for the Colonels put Drew Erwin on the mound and the hurler suffered from a Bobcat bashing at the plate. Witek opened the seventh frame with a base hit and was shifted to the scoring corner after Randell doubled through the right side. Farrow drew the intentional walk to load the bases and Goldschmidt nearly cleared the centerfield field fence with the pitch, sending two Bobcats across the plate for a stand-up double. Theriot followed for back-to-back doubles to score Farrow and the Colonels signaled for a change.

Lance Guidroz came to relieve Erwin, but the damage had already taken place. Texas State put up three more runs before the close of the ninth, including two more in the seventh to aid in the first SLC victory of the season.

Mike Hart (2-1) pitched a full game for Texas State, allowing just seven hits and four runs, three of which were earned. The hurler notched a career-high 12 strikeouts after facing 38 Colonels.

Erwin (1-1) took the loss for Nicholls State. In his 0.1 innings, the Colonels allowed four hits and five earned runs on the six batters he faced.

Loftin topped at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Goldschmidt ended the game on a 2-for-4 effort, scoring two runs and earning three RBI, as well.

Tomorrow's game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. in Thibodaux and can be followed online through Game Tracker or on www.ThibodauxOnLine.com.