March 2, 2008

Final Stats

SAN MARCOS - Entering to bottom of the eleventh inning, Paul Goldschmidt approached the plate with one out and a tie ball game at hand. The slugger blasted a homerun over the left field fence to give the Texas State Bobcats an 8-7 victory over the New Mexico Lobos in the final game of the series Sunday afternoon at Bobcat Field. The `Cats improve to 4-3 on the season and take its first victory in three games.

Trailing by one in the ninth inning, Texas State held the Lobos scoreless with two hits, leaving to runners stranded. Shifting the infield around, UNM moved short stop Scott Gracey to the mound to hold off the `Cats for a half frame. Goldschmidt led off, but grounded out to short stop. Jon Farrow singling through the right side on the next appearance to put the tying run on base. Laurn Randell followed bat, but hit into a fielder's choice, giving the Lobos just one out to retire the innings. However, Randell moved into scoring position after stealing second base on the next pitch and advanced to third on a passed ball. Ben Theriot roped an infield single to plate Randell and keep Texas State alive.

New Mexico put up one hit in the tenth inning, but left two runners on base, giving the Bobcats a chance to steal the lead in their at bat, but State returned to the field after three-straight putouts.

Kyle Gembler took the mound in the final frame, and New Mexico's Drew McDonald popped up to Thomas Field for the first out. Chad Itokazu was hit by a pitch to put the winning run on base and Kevin Atkinson his a long ball to left field that blew into foul territorty, but Bret Atwood's speed allowed the freshman to tack on another out for Texas State. Field grabbed the next pop up to retire the inning and give the `Cats a chance at bat, in which Goldschmidt made the most of for the victory.

The Bobcats initiated their fight in the sixth inning, as they trailed 5-1 to the visiting Lobos. The trio materialized for the first time as Goldschmidt opened the frame with a solo homerun. Randell singled to left field on the next pitch and Theriot stroked a two-run homer over the right field fence for a three run inning for the `Cats.

Goldschmidt and Theriot recorded 3 RBI apiece, going 3-for-5 and 2-for-5 respectively. Randell went 3-5 scoring two runs and amassing one RBI.

For the game, Texas State nearly matched the Lobos hitting mark with 12, while the foe put up 13.

Gembler (1-0) pitched one solid inning, not allowing the Lobos a run or hit in the contest. Zach Tritz opened for Texas State, recording 6.2 innings on the mound, allowing six earned runs off ten hits. The hurler improved his career-high mark to four strikeouts.

Brian Cavazos went 3-for-6 for the Lobos, scoring three runs and tallying two RBI. Gracey (0-1) took the loss for New Mexico. In 2.1 innings, the hurled allowed three hits, and two runs, one of which was earned. Gracey notched one strikeout in his ten batters faced.

Texas State will travel to Fort Worth March 5 for meeting with TCU. Following the mid-week game, the 'Cats will return home for four games pitted with Northern Illinois.