Feb. 27, 2010

Final Stats

Waco, Texas - Texas State struggled from the mound in the top of the eighth inning, gave Western Kentucky a pair of costly runs and dropped a 4-3 decision Saturday night at the QTI Baylor Classic in Waco, Texas. The Bobcats are now 3-2 on the season and will face Texas A&M tomorrow evening at 5 p.m. to close out tournament play.

The Aggies beat tournament-host Baylor 4-2 this afternoon, and will enter tomorrow's game with a 4-2 overall record.

Lee Colon took the loss for Texas State, allowing two hits, two runs and four walks in three-plus innings. The junior struck out four batters in his stint on the mound.

Two scoreless innings went by and the Hilltoppers took the first mark with two runs in the top of the third. On two outs with a runner on second, Matt Payton belted an RBI triple to right center before coming home on a follow-up base hit up the middle to give the Hilltoppers a 2-0 edge.

Texas State replied with a single run off two hits in the bottom of the frame. Laurn Randell, who reached on a fielder's choice, swiped second base and reaped the benefits of a base hit to right field from Bret Atwood to trim WKU's lead.

The Bobcats turned a Hilltopper error into the tying run in the bottom of the fifth when Andrew Stumph reached on an infield throwing error. Randell was hit by a pitch and Tyler Sibley laid down a sacrifice bunt to push the runners to the scoring corner. Atwood notched his second RBI of the night, and sent Stumph home on a ground out to short.

In the top of the eighth, WKU had runners on first and second and Texas State opted for a pitching change. Fielding Pittman relieved Colon and issued a pair of walks, giving the foe a one-run edge. Covey Morrow was called to the mound and fanned one batter, but walked in another to give WKU a 4-2 advantage.

Kyle Livingstone mounted a comeback in the bottom of the eighth with a leadoff double to left center and a groundout pushed the senior home. The Hilltoppers brought in Rye Davis, who earned his second save of the season, and he shut down Texas State to end the inning and retired the side in the ninth to seal the game.

Brian Ederlen earned the win for WKU, going two-thirds an innings without allowing a hit or run, and striking out one batter.

The Bobcats' five hits were spread between five batters in tonight's loss. WKU recorded six hits, led by a 3-for-5 outing from Casey Dykes.