March 26, 2010
Final Stats
SAN MARCOS - The Texas State Bobcats posted a five-run eighth inning, highlighted by a solo home run from Kyle Livingstone, to edge by the Lamar Cardinals Friday night at Bobcat Field in an 8-7 victory.
Texas State improves to 12-8 overall and 5-2 in Southland Conference play, while Lamar falls to 15-7 and 2-5, respectively.
The Bobcats trailed 7-3 before heading into the eighth with only seven hits. The team nearly doubled the tally in the inning for the comeback.
"The turning point in the game came in the eighth with one out when we struck out with a runner on third," said head coach Ty Harrington. "(Jeff) McVaney came up with a clutch two-out hit, and at that point, we felt like we had a chance to make things happen."
Texas State began to claw its way back when McVaney reached the plate with Livingstone belting his fifth homer of the season and Kyle Kubitza following with a base hit to right field. Jason Martinson pushed Kubitza across on a triple drilled to right center and McVaney initiated a three-hit rally with an RBI single through the right side to score Martinson and bring the game to 7-6. Laurn Randell followed with an RBI single to tie the game at seven apiece and Andrew Stumph completed the trio of hits with a single through the right side. Colton Burnett replaced Stumph on the base paths and a wild pitch from Lamar allowed the pinch runner to score the game-winning run.
Garrett Carruth came in to pitch in the top of the ninth, retired the side in order to end the game, and pick up his second save of the season. Carruth had one strikeout in the victory.
"It (the win) only gives you momentum until tomorrow," added Harrington. "We make the team understand that each moment is different and when you win a game, you enjoy it, but when you walk back on the field tomorrow, it's a different moment."
Texas State started tonight's game down 1-0, but responded in the bottom of the first with a double from Livingstone who eventually scored on an RBI single from Kubitza.
Bret Atwood gave Texas State a 2-1 lead in the third, leading off with an infield bunt and scoring on a groundout from Kubitza.
Kubitza ended the outing with a pair of RBIs on a 3-for-4 outing at the plate with two runs scored. The sophomore gave Texas State its third run, but a four-run fifth by Lamar had the Bobcat chasing the foe.
Carson Smith, who wasn't a factor in tonight's decision, went 7 innings in tonight's start, allowing seven runs off 10 hits while striking out eight batters.
Mitchell Pitts took the mound in the eighth and held the Cardinals scoreless with just one hit while striking out one batter to earn his second win of the season.
Garrett Steward was saddled with tonight's loss, pitching one-third of a frame and allowing two runs off three hits.
Tomorrow's game against Lamar will begin at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on 89.9 KTSW FM. Michael Russo (2-0, 4.45 ERA) and Jonathan Dziedzic (1-0, 3.41 ERA) are slated to take the mound.
