March 21, 2010

Final Stats

Huntsville, TX - Sam Houston State used a five-run fifth inning to take a one-run lead over Texas State, but Jason Martinson completed the cycle with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to hand the Bobcats a 9-8 victory in game one of Sunday's doubleheader at Sanders Stadium.

Martinson went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI and three runs scored. All told, Texas State recorded 13 hits and all but two Bobcats recorded a hit.

Martinson broke open a 1-1 tie game in the second inning with double down the left line. A sacrifice fly from Shaun Garcia shifted him to third base and a base hit from Andrew Stumph sent him home to give Texas State the lead.

Sam Houston bested the effort with a pair of runs in the second, but the Bobcats took the lead back on an unearned run from Bret Atwood. The junior reached on a single up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball before scoring on a base hit and a ground out that followed.

Sam Houston knocked down the four-run wall six solid hits and scored five runs to take an 8-7 lead.

Brent Powers helped the Bearkats maintain the lead over two innings and Bobcat relief hurler Covey Morrow shut down Sam Houston's offense as well, making way for Martinson's homer in the ninth.

Morrow earned his first-career win with a 1 1/3 stint on the mound, yielding just three hits to the Bearkats. The sophomore struck out four of his 11 batters faced.

Garret Carruth picked up the save, his first of the season.

Game Two

Sam Houston State used two big innings that combined for seven runs that the Texas State baseball team could not match and the foe took a 10-8 win over the team in the final game of Sunday's doubleheader.

Texas State's offense started strong, putting up two runs in the first and second inning, highlighted by three doubles in the first frame.

Sam Houston State could only match the effort with one run in the bottom of the first, but exploded for a four-run third to take over the lead, 5-4.

In the top of the third, Daniel Neumann drew a walk to lead off the inning and a base hit down the right line from Bret Atwood plated the tying run. But Sam Houston counted in the fourth with an RBI double to reclaim the edge.

Kyle Livingstone initiated a late rally for the Bobcats in the seventh; leading off with a double down the left line and Kyle Kubitza followed with a triple to the opposite field to tie the game. A passed ball sent Kubitza home for a 7-6 game in favor of Texas State, but Sam Houston came fighting back once more.

Four hits, including a two-run double gave the Bearkats their final three runs that proved to be enough for the win.

Texas State nearly pulled off the upset again in the bottom of the eighth, but Martinson drew a bases loaded walk and Garcia popped out to short to end the fight.

Daniel Nottebart held Texas State in the ninth and picked up his first save of the season.

Brian Borski was charged with the loss and falls to 1-3 on the season. Texas State used six pitchers in the loss.

Overall, Texas State improves to 11-7 overall and 4-2 in Southland Conference action. Sam Houston closes out the weekend with a 6-13 mark overall and a 3-3 record in league play.

The Bobcats next appearance on the field will be Tuesday in Ft. Worth when they face TCU. First pitch against the Horned Frogs is set for 6:30 p.m. at Lupton Stadium.