May 3, 2009

Final Stats

San Antonio, TX - Five scoreless innings went by before pinch hitter Keith Prestridge made the most of his only at-bat of the day, knocking in the game-winning run in the top of the 11th inning, before Texas State took a 5-3 win Sunday afternoon at Roadrunner Field and clinched the I-35 Maroon vs. Orange baseball rivalry series.

Texas State improves to 33-12 overall and 20-6 in Southland Conference action, holding a two and a half game lead in the league standings. UTSA drops to 26-21 overall and 15-12 in the league.

Michael Russo earned his first win since the April 4 meeting with Central Arkansas. Russo relieved Tyler Brundridge in the eighth with one out remaining and forced Tyler Carpenter to ground out to second with runners on second and third to call off the threat.

The junior closed out the final three innings allowing just two hits while striking out three batters.

Both teams had a 1-2-3 frame in the first and Texas State opened scoring with a three-run second to take the early lead. Spenser Dennis hit a double just out of Michael Rockett's reach in right center and Lance Loftin brought him home on a home run to left field. Jason Martinson mimicked the feat with a solo home run to left center for the 3-0 game.

It took UTSA four innings, but the foe overcame the advantage. In the bottom of the second the Roadrunners answered with two runs off two hits and sent the tying run across in the bottom of the fifth. Ryan Rummell led off the inning with a base hit up the middle and shifted to second base on a sacrifice bunt before Tyler Davis' single dropped into shallow center and gave the catcher time to score.

Both teams put the winning run on in the seventh, eighth and tenth frames, but Texas State did not break through until the 11th and it came with help from UTSA's infield. Kyle Kubitza initiated the extra inning with a leadoff single to left center and a sac bunt from Ben Theriot put the freshman on second. Tyler Sibley followed with a hard-hitting knock to third base that Lance Brown could not handle for a set of base runners. Prestridge capitalized on Zach Calhoun's first pitch with a shot through the right side to plate Kubitza and the closer tossed a wild pitch in the next at-bat to send Sibley home for the final score.

Texas State managed 11 hits with four Bobcats notching two on the day. Kubitza went 2-for-5 in the outing.

UTSA totaled 12 hits and Michael Rockett led the Roadrunners with three.

The Bobcats will move on from the decision to a midweek meeting with Rice on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Reckling Park.