March 30, 2008

Final Stats

Huntsville, TX - Three combined errors changed the pace of Sunday afternoon's game at Sanders Stadium, but two mistakes by Sam Houston State handed the Texas State Bobcats eight runs and a 13-6 victory over the Bearkats. Texas State takes the series 2-1 and improves to 6-3 in Southland Conference action. Zach Tritz spent seven innings on the mound and earned his fifth win of the season, retaining his perfect mark on the field.

Texas State managed an extra-base hit in the first and second inning, but Sam Houston's defense left Paul Goldschmidt and Laurn Randell both stranded on the diamond and in the bottom half of two, Seth Hammock put a two-out homer over the left field wall to give Sam Houston the first score of the afternoon.

In the `Cats half of the fourth, Goldschmidt attempted to make the rounds with a lead-off double to centerfield and with a pair of groundouts from Ben Theriot and Randell, he rounded the bases for a 1-1 ball game. Texas State fought off the `Kats chance to take back the lead with help from Lance Loftin and a stellar defensive outing.

The third baseman carried his skills over to the plate, opening the fifth inning with a long fly ball over the left field wall to spark a four-run five-hit uplift for the `Cats. A trio of base hits plated Elliott Babcock for a 3-1 score and a change on Sam Houston's mound. Matt Shelton replaced starting hurler Zach Neal, but Texas State never slowed. A sac fly from Goldschmidt sent the third Maroon and Gold jersey across the plate and a single from Theriot plated Thomas Field for the final tally of the inning.

One full set later an error from Texas State brought SHSU back into the mix with when Ryan Weber led off with a base hit and crossed with the help of a `Kats single and the mishap. The foe would leave the tying run on base, plating two more before their rally ended.

The one-man margin lasted throughout the seventh inning, but a blundering Sam Houston infield handed Texas State eight runs and watched the scoreboard blow up. Bobcats were at first and second and Bret Atwood hit straight into a double play, but Weber mishandled the shot and Texas State did not look back.

Theriot, Randell, Loftin and Babcock all dropped in a pair of hits for Texas State, with the final team tally ending at 16.

Neal took the loss for Sam Houston, allowing five runs, all of which were earned in his four-frame stint on the mound. The Bearkats sent in seven different arms before the games end.

Texas State will begin their April slate Wednesday when they usher in the TCU Horned Frogs for part two of the home-and-away series. First pitch at Bobcat Field is slated for 6:30 p.m. and the `Cats will jump right back into Southland action April 4-6, playing host to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.