Pitching Prevails in 3-2 Victory over Lumberjacks

April 2, 2010

 

Final Stats

 

Nacogdoches, Texas - Led by a six-inning effort from senior Michael Russo, the Texas State pitching staff surrendered just two runs off nine hits and blanked the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in the final eight innings, all leading to a 3-2 victory over the team Friday afternoon at Jaycees Field.

After a two-run first put SFA in the driver seat, Russo took over on the mound, working through the next five frames to hold the team scoreless while picking up a pair of strikeouts. On the day, he finished fanning three of his 27 batters faced, allowed one walk and two runs off seven hits.

"Today was one of the best efforts I've seen from this team on the mound," said head coach Ty Harrington. "Each guy went out there and threw right at (SFA), which is exactly what they were supposed to do."

Covey Morrow took over in the seventh and erased the lead runner on a sacrifice attempt after a leadoff single put the `Jacks on base. A walk put Tanner Hines in scoring position and Fielding Pittman relieved Morrow. Pittman face two batters, forced both to ground out to short to retire the inning, and picked up the win.

"Pittman has two (wins) now for doing his job," added Harrington. "There are 27 outs in a game and each one is important. The two Fielding had today helped us win the game."

Pittman earned his second win in as many appearances today. The senior's first victory came in Texas State's 6-5 decision over Texas A&M.

Following his efforts, McVaney shut down the eighth and nearly closed the ninth. An error at short put the tying run on and a sacrifice bunt put Garret Smith on second. McVaney worked through the jam to strike out Darren Crabtree and senior Garret Carruth traded places with the sophomore on the mound.

After his first pitch was lined down the left line foul, Carruth came right back at Bobby Loveless with a pair of pitches, just enough to sit him down for a strikeout to give Texas State the win.

Carruth earned his fifth save of the season, good for the No. 9 spot in Texas State's single-season record book.

Unlike the skillful showcase on the mound, Texas State's offense was slow to come around. In the first, Bret Atwood popped up an attempted sacrifice bunt to advance Tyler Sibley who reached on a walk, and on the following play Sibley was picked off at first for a pair of quick outs.

Kyle Livingstone singled to shallow left to follow and Jason Martinson drew a walk to put runners in scoring position for a potential break, but Jared West struck out Kyle Kubitza to end the inning.

SFA countered with back-to-back line drives through the left side to score its first run and a base hit from Loveless tacked on the second for the foe's 2-0 lead.

In the top of the sixth, McVaney kick-started the bats with a solo homerun to left center, his second of the series and third of the season to trim the lead.

Heading into the seventh, Sibley stretched a base hit up the middle into a double and took third base on a sacrifice fly from Atwood. Livingstone followed with a sacrifice to left center and Sibley scored to tie the game.

In Texas State's third-straight scoring frame, Shaun Garcia proved to be the winning run. The senior pinch hit for Jordan Kopycinski and was hit by a pitch to reach. A sac bunt from Randell shifted him to second and base hit knocked to the right corner from Atwood gave Garcia room to score.

The Bobcats sit first in the Southland Conference race, improving to 9-2 against the league and 17-8 overall, while the Jacks fall to 6-4 and 16-9, respectively.

Tomorrow's series finale is set for a 1 p.m. start at Jaycees Field. LHP Lee Colon is set to face RHP Justin Braddock.

Southland Scores through 04/02/2010

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