Feb. 25, 2009

Final Stats

SAN MARCOS - Paul Goldschmidt belted a two-run homer in the top of the first to lift Texas State to an early 2-0 lead, but No. 16 TCU held the Bobcats to the tally and rushed ahead with an 8-2 win Wednesday night at Lupton Stadium.

Texas State shifts to 3-2 before entering the three-game Southland Conference series with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi this weekend. TCU improves to 4-1 on the season.

Michael Russo was issued his first loss of the season, pitching 4.0 innings and allowing four runs, three of which were unearned, over the span of five hits. Russo also notched a career-high five strikeouts.

Goldschmidt's pair of RBIs brought in Bret Atwood in the bottom of the first and the two hits would be all Texas State would post in the next four frames. Greg Holle pitched 4.2 innings for TCU to open the game and retired the side the in the second and third innings to hold off the Bobcats.

After matching Texas State's effort in the bottom of the first with two hits for a pair of runs, TCU moved ahead with two more runs in the bottom of the third. Matt Carpenter doubled to right center to lead off the inning and a Bobcat fielding error shifted runners to second and third base before a wild pitch gave TCU a 3-2 lead. A double to left center from Matt Curry followed to send the foe's fourth run across.

Texas State tried to answer to move ahead in the top of the fifth when Laurn Randell tapped two-out base hit to right center and stole second. The space opened up room for Tyler Sibley who drew a walk and force a pitching change on TCU's end. Eric Marshall replaced Greg Holle and Atwood laced a single to third base off the fresh arm to load the bases, but Goldschmidt grounded out in the next at-bat to end the charge.

Relief on the mound took over in the fifth inning and Tim Heath faced just four batters to retire the Horned Frogs. But in the top bottom of the sixth, TCU rapped out two hits to open the inning and Jeff McVaney took the mound for Texas State, only to be taken for three hits and a pair of runs. TCU lifted itself to the 8-2 advantage, sending four runs across and leaving a pair on the base paths.

Taylor Featherston led TCU at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Goldschmidt and Atwood went 2-for-4 as the only Bobcats to notch multiple hits.

Southland Conference action begins Feb. 27 in Corpus Christi, Texas. First pitch against the Islanders is set for 6 p.m. Friday.