March 9, 2010
Final Stats
Austin, Texas - Carson Smith held his own Tuesday night on the big stage of UFCU Disch-Falk Field, and threw for seven innings holding the third-ranked Texas Longhorns to a single run and recording a career-high eight strikeouts. However, the all-around effort from Texas State was just short of a win at the park, and the team dropped a 4-3 decision to Texas.
"Carson wanted the ball tonight and he wanted to be on this stage taking care of the game," said head coach Ty Harrington. "He did that. He performed, very well if I might add, for 21 outs."
The Longhorns made it a very hard game to win in the bottom of the eighth inning when back-to-back singles off Bobcat reliever Pitts put the tying run on base. A fielder's choice bunt dappled to the mound gave the sophomore a chance a third to catch the lead runner, and Kyle Kubitza was there for the tag to erase the early threat.
But Texas State got in a bind when a walk issued to Kevin Keyes loaded the bases and an RBI fielder's choice trimmed the lead 3-2. Texas freshman Paul Montalbano proved to be the end all for the Bobcats, as he laced a single to shallow centerfield to score two runs, and eventually the win for Texas, 4-3.
"When you play here, it seems like the whole world is watching," said Harrington. "I admire (Smith) for everything he did, Mitchell (Pitts), Garret (Carruth) and (Jeff) McVaney on the mound." "It is extremely hard to win on this field, and Texas played a great game."
Texas State held its 2-0 edge through three innings after breaking through in the top of the fourth inning. Bret Atwood led off with a base hit to left field and stole second base when the Longhorns were occupied after striking out Kubitza. Livingstone came behind and laced a single through the left side to push Atwood home, and the senior came home shortly thereafter, stealing second base and rounding the diamond on towering double to the left-center warning track from Jason Martinson.
Texas scored its first run after a six-inning silence on a RBI-double from Kevin Lusson. The Longhorns tried match the Bobcats tally in the bottom of the seventh when Lusson was on the scoring corner and an attempted sacrifice bunt was pushed down the first base line with just enough speed for Livingstone to go home and end the threat.
The Bobcat went ahead 3-1 in the top of the eighth on a double from freshman Daniel Neumann. A groundout shifted him to third base, and the freshman scored on a passed ball.
Carruth was handed the loss, going 1/3 of an inning and allowing a single run and two walks.
Andrew McKirahan was credited with the win for Texas after a perfect 1/3 of an inning. Chance Ruffin was credited with the save.
The Bobcats return to the field this Friday night when they play host to Penn State in a three-game series. First pitch against the Nittany Lions is set for 6:30 p.m. on opening night. Saturday's game is set for 2 p.m. and the series will close Sunday at 11 a.m.
