May 22, 2008

Final Stats

Huntsville, TX - The late-rallying Texas State Bobcats did their best to catch up to a hard-hitting Lamar Cardinal team, but 20 hits from the foe turned into an 11-7 win and handed the `Cats their first loss of the Southland Conference Tournament Thursday afternoon.

The Bobcats will now face Southeastern Louisiana at 9 a.m. tomorrow in an elimination round. A win will pit the `Cats on a turnaround 4 p.m. contest against Lamar.

The Cardinals took off this afternoon with its first run in the top of the first when a Bobcat error put Tyler Link on the base paths. A sacrifice bunt and a shallow centerfield single combined to plate the lead-off for a 1-0 Lamar lead.

LU grew the margin to two in the top of the third with back-to-back base hits that started with the bottom of the lineup. Brian Taylor flew out to right, but the sacrifice was enough to score a second run.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats were having a tough time handling Justin Walker on the mound. The left-hander gave up just two hits throughout the top five innings while retiring the side in the second, fourth and fifth frames.

After a one-run fourth from LU, the foe tacked on six more runs in the top of the fifth when the Cards rapped out nine-straight hits that included two home runs.

Trailing 9-0, Ben Theriot laced a hard hit by the second baseman to initiate a comeback and Aaron Fuller followed suit with his own single to left center. The pair scored the `Cats first two runs when Thomas Field and Laurn Randell put up back-to-back RBI hits and Paul Goldschmidt and Lance Loftin added a third set of singles to the fury to chip away at the lead, 9-4.

Neither club scored again until the final frame and Lamar's David Moore led off the top of the ninth with his third home run of the night. Up 10-4 with two outs, Jeremiah Sammy notched a base hit up the middle and rounded the bases on a follow-up shot. But Elliott Babcock launched the ball in from right field for a play at the plate and the call fell in Lamar's favor for an 11-4 edge.

However, the `Cats didn't go quietly and Spenser Dennis led the forge after being hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. Bret Atwood replaced Dennis on the base paths and cleared the diamond with a double from Theriot. With two outs, Field drew a four-pitch walk and stole second before Randell belted a two-RBI single into left center. Goldschmidt tapped out a follow-up single up the middle, but the `Cats comeback came to an end with a line drive from Loftin was caught by the second baseman.

Walker was credited with the win after rationing the Bobcats and Moore led the offensive attack with a 4-for-5 day that included five RBI and three home runs.

Goldschmidt went 3-for-5 and scored one run in the `Cats favor. Theriot, Fuller and Randell added a pair of hits, as well.

Zach Tritz took the loss after spending four innings on the mound. Tritz allowed seven runs, six of which were earned, off 11 hits.

Live stats will be available for tomorrow's game via www.txstatebobcats.com.