March 20, 2008

Final Stats

SAN MARCOS - With a three-two count and the Texas State Bobcats trailing by one, Ben Theriot launched a ball to centerfield to send the tying run home, but a tenth-inning home run by Chad Comer foiled the `Cats comeback and Texas State fell 6-5 at Bobcat Field Saturday evening in ten innings. Both programs shift to an even 2-2 Southland Conference record with the results of tonight's game.

Mike Hart faced just four Maverick batters to retire the opening inning before the `Cats had their chance on the bats. Thomas Field drew a walk to lead off the frame and advanced to the scoring corner on a single from Adam Witek and a sacrifice fly from Laurn Randell.

Jonathan Farrow hit into a double play, deadening Witek and himself at first base to retire the inning, but in a strange twist the umpires brought Texas State back onto the field because of missed tag at second base. The play sent Field across for Texas State's first tally and put Witek back on second base. Paul Goldschmidt then hit Witek on his shot to the short stop to ultimately end the inning.

Texas-Arlington countered with three runs in the top of the third to take lead. Evan Raley hit a fly ball to right field that was dropped by Texas State to put him on first and came across the plate on the next at-bat when Jeff Storms notched a double to centerfield. Storms was sent home, along with Collin Garner, who reached on a walk with a two-base knock from David McLeod.

The `Cats eventually put their second run on the board after two scoreless innings when Spenser Dennis dropped a base hit into center field to send Jerry Cervantes across the plate, who reached on a fielder's choice and shifted to second base off a Lance Loftin's single through the right side gap.

UTA answered again with two runs in the sixth for a 5-2 lead over the `Cats, but a pair of singles in the bottom of the seventh sent new hope to the Texas State bench. Randell drove his ball straight down the left line to send Theriot and Dennis across the plate and it was Theriot's shot again in the eighth to tie the game.

In its fourth extra-inning game of the season, Texas State fell to a Maverick squad that had not won on the road since its 2003 season with a long shot over the right center fence by Comer.

Josh Walter, who entered the game in the eighth inning, took the loss for Texas State. Jeff Edlefsen earned his first win of the season and Andy Sauter grabbed the save for UTA.

With a 3-for-5 mark tonight, Witek extended his hitting streak to eight straight games. Dennis, raised his career tally to four hits, after going 2-for-4 with one RBI.

The Bobcats will be back on the field tomorrow at 2 p.m.