May 11, 2008

Final Stats

Lake Charles, La. - McNeese State pitcher Mic Robbins shut down the rapid-fire bats of the weekend and rationed the Texas State Bobcats to just four hits, but the team turned the shallow margin into a 3-1 victory to complete a three-game sweep over the Cowboys Sunday afternoon at Cowboy Diamond.

The Bobcats move to a 17-10 Southland Conference record with the win and 27-23 overall.

McNeese State swapped roles in the afternoon contest when Mace Hebert launched a triple down the right field line in the bottom of the first inning. Sam Merrill hit a sacrifice fly to left field to send Hebert home and the Cowboys took the early lead, 1-0.

The foe rode the one-run tally out for seven innings thanks to a proficient Robbins on the mound. The left-hander retired the side in the first, second and fourth inning and faced just four batters in the third and fifth before Texas State broke the seal with a hit in the top of the sixth. On one out, Thomas Field roped a single to third base and Laurn Randell backed it with a base hit through the left side for the go ahead run. But Paul Goldschmidt hit into a double play to retire the inning and the `Cats still trailed 1-0.

In the top of the seventh, Texas State's hits finally turned into runs when Spenser Dennis lined a double down the right side chalk to bring in Lance Loftin who reached on a lead-off walk. A McNeese throwing error shifted Dennis to third base and Robbins walked and hit the following two batters with two outs to load the bases. The Cowboys opted for a pitching change, but Ryan Frantz hit Field on the next at bat to hand Texas State a 2-1 lead.

Texas State sent its final run across on a one-hit two-error ninth inning, while Zach Tritz retained the Cowboys at the plate by retiring the side in the closing three frames for the sweeping event.

McNeese out-hit Texas State 8-4 and concluded the losing effort with three errors. Shon Landry went 3-for-4 to lead the offense.

Tritz completed his fourth game of the season with 101 pitches, striking out 5-of-32 batters faced and walked none. He improves to a 9-2 record on the mound with the victory.

Ben Theriot's ninth inning single completed the four-hit tally for Texas State.

The Bobcats will face Baylor Tuesday night at Ferrell Field for their final non-conference bid. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.