April 13, 2010
Final Stats
Austin, Texas - The Texas State baseball team enjoyed a lead over fourth-ranked Texas until the eighth inning when a costly error changed the pace of the game and the Longhorns took a 6-5 win over the Bobcats Tuesday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
The loss puts Texas State at 20-11 on the season, while Texas jumps to 27-7, takings its ninth-straight game.
The Bobcats clung to a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth and needed just one out to retire the inning, but a shallow popup to right field tipped Laurn Randell's glove and a run trickled in to the plate. Junior Paul Montalbano continued the rally, lacing a triple to the left center wall to bring in the final pair of runs in Texas' three-run comeback.
"Defense is something that's really important and critical in this game," said head coach Ty Harrington. "In tonight's game we saw that, especially at the end. I think both teams pitched exceptionally well and played competitively, but defense decided tonight's game."
Texas State finished with two errors to Texas' one on the night. Brian Borski held his own in a six-inning stay in tonight's no decision. The junior scattered seven hits and allowed three runs, two of which were earned, with five strikeouts.
Keifer Nuncio earned the win for Texas after 1 1/3 of scoreless relief. Chance Ruffin picked up his ninth save of the season with a one-hit scoreless ninth.
Sam Stafford shut down Texas State with a three-up, three-down first, but the Bobcats took advantage of Texas' struggle from the mound to spark an early lead. Kyle Kubitza was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. Kyle Livingstone came behind with base hit to push him to the corner and designated hitter Jeff McVaney brought in the first run of the game with a base hit just out of reach of Tant Shepherd's glove at first base. With a pair of runners on, Andrew Stumph belted the Bobcats first home run against Texas in Austin since 2008, a three-run shot to left center to give the team a 4-0 lead.
Borski retired the third in order and fanned two batters to close out the fourth, but not before Texas could push two across. Tant Shepherd started the rally with a single up the middle and Borski walked Cameron Rupp to put runners in scoring position. Russell Moldenhauer took the challenge with a double of the centerfield wall to score one and Kevin Keyes followed with an RBI single through the left side.
Texas State bounced back with an RBI double in the sixth from Clint Vest, and the Longhorns threatened in their half with an unearned run. Kevin Lusson reached on a base hit into shallow right and a single and an error pushed the unearned run across to trim the lead before taking over in the eighth.
"We've got to learn from tonight's game, have a short memory and move on," added Harrington. "We'll take something from this, especially how to keep our competitive nature, but we have to work on finishing our game."
Texas State remains on the road this weekend, traveling to Hammond, Louisiana for a three-game Southland Conference series with Southeastern Louisiana. The Bobcats currently lead the league standings with a 12-3 record, while the Lions trail in second place, 10-5.
