May 3, 2008

Final Stats

Nacogdoches, TX - Stephen F. Austin laid the foundation for a victory early on and the slow-starting Texas State Bobcats could not overcome a 14 hit- five home run affair and fell 13-9 Saturday afternoon at Jaycees Field.

SFA (21-25; 8-14 SLC) put three quick runs on the board in the bottom of the second inning starting with a pair of base runners that reached on a walk and a single through the left side. Kai Kirby plated the pair with a hard-hitting triple to centerfield and did not wait for the next at-bat to score. He stole home before Steven Siers delivered his next pitch to give the `Jacks a 3-0 start.

Meanwhile Elliott Babcock had the lone hit for the `Cats (24-21; 14-9 SLC) throughout five innings on a single in the top of the second to right field.

The `Jacks moved up 5-0 on a two-RBI double from Kirby and took an 8-0 lead after three of the top four batters in the bottom of the fifth belted home runs off Siers.

A late rally in the top of the sixth popped off when Thomas Field hit a triple to center field on two outs and Adam Witek backed it with a single up the middle to give the `Cats their first run. Witek shifted to third on Goldschmidt's single down the left line and scored on a slice through the left side from Lance Loftin.

Down 9-2 in the top of the seventh, Jonathan Farrow latched on to an 0-1 pitch from Erich Gregersen to give the `Cats three runs on a solo blast to center.

With strong relief from Brian Borski out of the bullpen, Texas State managed to stifle the `Jacks offense and move ahead at the plate.

With one out in the eighth, Goldschmidt reached on a fielder's choice and back-to-back singles followed to send him home. With runners on the corners SFA brought in Heath Konesheck who hit Ben Theriot to load the bases. Down 0-2 in the count, Laurn Randell came through with a slice through the right side to score Loftin and Babcock and put `Cats within three. Richard Folmer relieved Konesheck and one hit batter and wild pitch later Texas State was back in the game, 9-8 with the winning run on first base. Thomas Field flew out to end the five-run eighth.

SFA answered back in the bottom of the inning, tacking on four more runs to take a 13-8 advantage and held Texas State to just one run in the ninth to take the win.

Witek went 2-for-5 and added one RBI to his two runs for the day. Three other `Cats notched a pair of hits against the `Jacks.

Siers took the loss for the Maroon and fell to 4-2 on the season.

Gregersen improved to 2-2 with the win.

Texas State will look to fight off the sweep tomorrow afternoon in the final game of the series. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.