April 9, 2010

Final Stats

SAN MARCOS - Laurn Randell went 5-for-5 with a pair of triples and a two-run home run to highlight Texas State's 14-2 run-rule victory over Central Arkansas Friday night at Bobcat Field. The win marks the second run-rule for the Bobcats in conference play this season.

Texas State is now 10-3 in Southland Conference play and 18-10 overall, while UCA drops to 3-10 and 9-20, respectively. Randell catapulted the Bobcats offense with a leadoff base hit into centerfield and five hits rounded out the innings for a 7-0 lead out of the gate.

"I thought our energy level tonight before the game started was really good," said head coach Ty Harrington. "It was different from Tuesday night and our performance showed it."

With two outs in the first, Randell had another turn at bat and sent the final run of the frame across, driving a triple to left center.

Texas State tacked on two runs in the second and closed out scoring with five runs in the fifth with help from Randell, again. The senior followed up a single from Clint Vest with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left center. A pair of walks set the stage for Jeff McVaney to repeat the feat, and a three-run homer to left center set a sizeable margin between the two teams.

All but two Bobcats finished with a hit in tonight's 14-hit effort. McVaney finished with a game-high five RBI, while Randell was a double shy of hitting for the cycle in his five-hit night.

"In Randell's final at-bat, I thought he was unbelievable stretching out the triple," said Harrington. "If he holds up at second, he hits for the cycle which is a hitter's dream, but he played the game as hard as he could, which is all he knows, and that shows so much more."

With the Bobcats offensive efforts taken care of, Carson Smith maintained the edge on the mound. The sophomore earned his fourth win of the season after a seven-inning stretch that surrendered just four hits and two runs, neither of which were earned, along with recording four strikeouts.

"I thought Carson was responsible for a lot of the momentum tonight," added Harrington. "We had three double plays to help him on the mound and he kept his focus, stayed solid throughout the night and did a great job."

In the top of the sixth, UCA scored their only pair of unearned runs on two outs with a sacrifice fly and an RBI base hit from Blake Roberts. Reece Cross, who went 2/3 of an inning to open the game, was tagged with the loss and fell to 0-4.

Tomorrow's game against UCA is set for 2 p.m. Michael Russo is set to face LHP Dustin Ward.