March 22, 2008

Final Stats

SAN MARCOS - Four homeruns highlighted a 17-hit afternoon as the Texas State Bobcats rolled over the Texas-Arlington Mavericks in a 13-4 victory Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Field. Zack Tritz notched his fourth-straight win with today's success and the `Cats improve to 4-2 in Southland Conference play and 12-7 overall.

"I take the mound as if the score was 0-0 and try to throw my best each inning, and it's even better when you have a defense like this backing up every pitch," said junior Zack Tritz. Tritz is now perfect on the season, improving to a 4-0 mark with the win. The hurler finished six solid innings, allowing just four runs to plate for Texas-Arlington.

But the tally dimmed in comparison to the eleven-mark gap created by the Bobcats over the opening three innings, including a seven-run first frame. Thomas Field led off the game with a double down the left line and a pair of singles from Laurn Randell and Paul Goldschmidt sent him home for the first score. Jerry Cervantes put a shot in left to plate Randell and Ben Theriot cleared the diamond with a two-base hit to left center for two RBI.

Elliott Babcock replicated the play at the plate to send Theriot home and Spenser Dennis closed out the inning with his first home run of the season, a two-run jack over the left field wall.

Texas-Arlington fought back to plate three in the top of the second inning, but State added two apiece in the second and third to take an 11-3 lead over the Mavericks.

UTA's final score came at the top of the fifth when Blake Holt was shifted around the bases after drawing a lead-off walk and cut the margin to six, but Thomas Field erased the effort with a solo homerun in the bottom of the frame for a 12-4 score.

Jason Martinson added the finishing touches with single blast to left center, his first career home run.

Paul Goldschmidt went 3-for-5 to lead Texas State at the plate, including a two-run homer in the second inning. Goldschmidt finished with three RBI and two runs. Theriot completed the outing with three hits and two RBI, while Field, Babcock and Adam Witek each added a pair of hits.

Mark Picca took the loss for Texas-Arlington after facing all but one Bobcat before retiring to the dugout. Picca allowed six runs off six hits, all of which were earned.

The Bobcats will face last year's triumph Tuesday evening when they play host to the No. 15 Rice Owls. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.