March 9, 2008

Final Stats

SAN MARCOS - The Texas State Bobcats countered an early lead posted by the Northern Illinois Huskies in the second inning and never looked back as the team posted a 16-5 win over the foe in Sunday afternoon's victory at Bobcat Field. Texas State tallied a 17-7 hitting margin over NIU to aid in the victory. The `Cats are now 7-4 in their pre-conference slate as Southland Conference play nears.

Jordin Hood popped a home run ball over the left center fence to send Jeff Thomas across the plate for the first two runs of the game. Back-to-back singles put Dave Reynolds on the board for a three-run half frame from the Huskies.

Texas State took advantage of a struggling pitcher and the windy breeze in the bottom of the second for a five-run tally. Jerry Cervantes packed on the first two runs with a hard hit over the left field fence to plate Paul Goldschmidt. Freshman Steven Vidaurri, Jr. recorded his first-career hit on the next at-bat straight through the left side and eventually scored on an NIU error. With a tie game at hand, Thomas Field notched his second homerun of the season with a two-run blast to left field and closed out the inning with a 5-3 Bobcat lead.

Hood led off the third inning for NIU and put his bat in motion for his a second homerun of the night, a solo shot to the left side. Reynolds attempted the feat, but was snagged out in left field and Bobcat pitcher, Zach Tritz caught the next two Huskies looking at the plate to retire the innings.

The Bobcats posted two runs in the third and fourth inning apiece, with Laurn Randell going 2-for-2 in the frames to notch two RBI and score one run.

Field highlighted the fifth inning with a double to right field to plate Lance Loftin for the lone run of the frame.

The `Cats forged ahead to put four more runs on the board in the seventh inning for a 14-4 margin, holding the Huskies scoreless for four-straight frames.

NIU managed to score just one more run before the games end at the top of the eighth inning. Brandon Gaviglio went to the mound for Tritz. However, the hurler got off to a rocky start with a series of walks and untamed pitches. Hood reached on a fielder's choice in the inning, shifted the bases and eventually scored the final run for NIU on a passed ball.

After Field tripled in the bottom of the same frame to score Elliott Babcock, Adam Witek put a single shot through the right side to pay it forward for the Bobcats final two runs of the night.

Field finished the night hitting through the cycle while also grabbing four RBI and scoring three runs. Witek and Randell paired a 3-for-4 night with three and two RBI, respectively in tonight's win.

Tritz earned the win after pitching 7.0 innings, allowing six hits and putting away five batters on strikeouts.

Brandon Copp took the loss for Northern Illinois. In his 4.2 innings, the pitcher allowed ten hits and ten runs, all of which were earned. The loss shifts the Husky pack to a 2-7 overall record.

The Bobcats will take on the Big XII in tomorrow's outing for the final game of the series in a tilt with Texas Tech. The game at Bobcat Field is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. start.