March 25, 2009

Final Stats

SAN MARCOS - Tuesday night the Texas State baseball team shattered three records and Spenser Dennis led the charge by setting an all-time individual mark, going 7-for-8 at the plate to lead the team to a 33-3 victory over the Prairie View A&M Panthers at Bobcat Field.

Texas State improves to 13-8 overall, while Prairie View drops to 14-10. The Bobcats will move on from the winning decision tomorrow night when they play host to the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Texas State's 33 runs broke a previous mark of 28 set in 2001 against Texas Southern. The team also bested a previous record of 25 RBIs collected in a single game that was set in 1986 against the Tigers, as well, belting in 29 runs tonight. The offensive assault rapped out 31 hits and broke the single-game record of 27 hits set last season against McNeese State in Southland Conference action.

Dennis, who transferred from Prairie View in 2007, recorded the best game of his career against the former teammates. His seven hits not only set a Texas State record, but a league record, as well. Dennis added five runs and four RBIs to the record night.

"The team told me about the record once I hit five," said Dennis. "But I didn't want to think about it. I wanted to focus on seeing the ball; hitting the ball and helping the team win. Setting the record just adds more to the win."

The Bobcats started the attack with six runs in the bottom of the first and spread the margin to 10-0 before the Panthers broke through on the board.

Ronald Garner struggled from the start on the mound, hitting Tyler Sibley on his first pitch. Dennis put a single up the middle, but the hurler issued back-to-back walks to give the Bobcats their first run.

Ben Theriot followed with the bases loaded and quickly cleared the slate with his first-career grand slam on a 0-1 hit to right center. Jason Martinson closed out the inning with an RBI single up the middle.

Texas State put up four-straight scoring innings, while Prairie View could only match the effort with a solo run in the top of the fifth on a two-out home run from John Villapondo.

The Bobcats added a second six-run inning in the bottom of the sixth, but the true damage came in the bottom of the eighth. Texas State batted around and scored 10 runs off eight hits, led by a pair of runs and hits from Shaun Garcia.

The Panthers scored their final two runs in the top of the fifth and ninth innings.

All but two players that saw action in tonight's game notched a hit and each Bobcat reached base at least once in the game.

Theriot went 5-for-5 for the night and fell a double shy of hitting for the cycle, while collecting seven RBIs.

Garrett Carruth earned his first win after tossing 5.0 innings and holding Prairie View to just two runs off seven hits. The junior also struck out four batters.

Prairie View recorded 12 hits and was led by Villaponda who went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs.

Garner took the loss after pitching just 2.0 innings, allowing 10 runs off eight hits.

First pitch against the Red Raiders is set for 6:30 p.m. Tailgating has been approved for the contest and will be open to the public at 2 p.m. Spaces will be available along Charles Austin Drive on a first come, first serve basis.

An internet broadcast along with live stats will b e available at www.txstatebobcats.com.