March 7, 2008

Final Stats

SAN MARCOS - The Texas State Bobcats posted a three-run lead over Northern Illinois in the sixth inning and held off for the victory, despite an attempted comeback by the Huskies. The `Cats took a 3-1 victory at Bobcat Field Friday night and improve to 5-4 on the season.

Laurn Randell was walked with two outs in the bottom of the first and jumped out for a big lead off first base when Jonathan Farrow singled through the left side to send him home and open the scoring tally for the Bobcats.

In an attempt to keep the rally going in the bottom of the fifth inning Elliott Babcock was in scoring position on an NIU error, but was left on base.

The `Cats broke the four-inning silence in the bottom of the sixth with two runs knocked in by Jerry Cervantes. Paul Goldschmidt sliced his first hit of the night through the right side to reach first base to bring up Ben Theriot. The sophomore tapped the ball straight to the second baseman, but the Huskie fumbled the ball in his attempt to make the play, putting two `Cats on the diamond. Next at bat, Cervantes nearly took his pitch over the fence, plating Goldschmidt and Theriot for what would be the game-winning runs, but was held to two bases himself after centerfielder Pat Minogue cannoned the ball into the infield.

Northern Illinois struck back in the following inning with Marvin Sanchez opening the frame with a walk. With no outs, the Huskie moved to the scoring corner on back-to-back base hits, and crossed when Jordin Hood was put out at first base, leaving home plate open. Randell caught the next fly out in centerfield to retire the inning.

Texas State held NIU to the solo run for the remainder of the game, with Josh Walter emerging in the ninth inning for three-straight outs to close the contest. Walter earned his second save of the season in tonight's victory.

Mike Hart grabbed the win for Texas State, pitching a solid 7.0 innings that included 11 strikeouts to match a career-mark. Hart held NIU to just six hits and one run after facing 31 batters.

A trio of Bobcats went 1-for-3 in the tilt, with Farrow taking the remaining RBI after Cervantes' two-mark tally.

The Huskies held a 7-5 hitting-margin over the Bobcats and committed four errors in tonight's game.

Texas State's next appearance on the field will be against the Texas Tech Red Raiders tomorrow and is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start, following a Raiders/Huskie tilt that will begin at 2 p.m. at Bobcat Field.