April 10, 2008

Final Stats

SAN MARCOS - The University of Houston exploded for eight runs in the top of the eighth inning to overcome an 8-7 deficit and hand the Texas State Bobcats a 15-9 loss at Bobcat Field Wednesday night. The `Cats fall to 17-12 overall with the loss, while the Cougars improve to 20-11 on the season.

The tilt opened with Blake Kelso launching the first pitch of the game into deep centerfield for a stand-up double, only to cross the plate shortly with a single through the right side by Jake Stewart and give Houston its first tally o f the night. After holding the `Cats in the bottom of the first, the Cougars continued on their scoring route, plating three more runs to lengthen the margin.

Texas State relied on help from the UH mound in the bottom of the second to give them a set of base runners. Jonathan Farrow drew a walk and Lance Loftin was hit by a pitch for a two-man stage. Spenser Dennis was next at bat and didn't settle for the free base, instead the slugger took heed to the first pitch across the plate and sent it far over the left field wall, squashing the deficit, 4-3, and bringing the `Cats back in the game.

Houston fought off State's intrusion with another mark in the third inning, but the home team would not go silently. With one out on the scoreboard, Texas State punched out four-straight hits and plated three runs to take a 6-5 lead over Houston.

Texas State held UH scoreless in the top of the fourth and increased its mark to seven with a Paul Goldschmidt blast over the left center wall.

Bryan Pounds answered the sluggers hit with a damaging homerun of his own in the top of the fifth, cutting the Bobcats lead to 7-6. A two-out triple from the Cougar plate in their next at-bat gave the foe a chance to tie the game and on a passed ball the squad jumped at the opportunity and raised the score 7-7.

Texas State took the lead once more when Jason Martinson opened the seventh with a double to right center and Elliott Babcock put a base hit in the same spot to grab an RBI and send him home.

A trio of base hits from the Cougars end followed to tie the game once more and Texas State retired Eric Weaver on the mound. With Tyler Brundridge in place, the `Cats grabbed their first out of the inning on a sac bunt, but runners were still on second and third. Kelso ripped the next pitch to Martinson at third base who threw home to snag the lead-off runner, but a close call fell in UH favor, stealing the Bobcats lead.

The call did not sit easy with head coach Ty Harrington and after an earful; the home plate umpire ejected Harrington from the game. With good fortune in tow, Stewart grabbed Houston's second home run of the night with two on for a 12-8 mark and the Cougars did not stop until they nearly doubled the `Cats run tally.

Down 15-8, Texas State muscled for just one more run that came in the bottom of the eighth inning. Cody Gambill pinch ran for Thomas Field and was shifted to second after Witek drew a walk. Two groundouts followed to plate the stand-in.

Field went 3-for-4 to lead the Bobcats in tonight's loss. Farrow, Babcock, Dennis and Cervantes each picked up two hits toward the `Cats tally. Dennis grabbed four RBI and Babcock plated three in the outing.

Eric Weaver (0-2) was credited with the loss after allowing three runs off three hits in the eighth frame without any outs.

Barrett Bruce improves to 4-0 after grabbing tonight's victory in his single inning on the mound. Stewart went 3-for-6 and posted four RBI to head Houston's campaign.

The Bobcats will take a day's rest before beginning their weekend Southland Conference series in Hammond, Louisiana. The `Cats first tilt with Southeastern Louisiana is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Alumni Field.