May 14, 2010

Final Stats

Thibodaux, Louisiana - Carson Smith worked through nine innings for Texas State Friday night and fanned seven batters, including the final two to end the game and pick up his eight win of the season and lead the Bobcats to a 5-0 victory over the Nicholls Colonels at Ray E. Didier Field.

Smith faced 30 batters in his second complete-game shutout this season. The seven strikeouts raises his tally to 84 on the season, No. 12 in the single-season Texas State records, surpassing former Bobcat and current assistant coach Jeremy Fikac (83).

With the sophomore ace maintaining on the mound, Texas State had to break through NSU starter Ryan Cooper's stellar start as well. After an infield single by Bret Atwood in the top of the first, Cooper didn't allow a Bobcat to reach base until the fifth.

The right-hander was charged with the loss and fell to 3-5 after going 8.1, allowed five runs, three of which were earned, off eight hits.

Jason Martinson cracked the shell in the top of the fifth, lacing a single to the gap that Colonel third base Blake Bergeron snagged, but a high throw pulled the first baseman off the bag to put the junior on base. Kyle Kubitza, who went 3-for-4 to lead the team, took advantage of the error with a deep triple to right center that plated the junior and Andrew Stumph followed up with an RBI double down the left line to give Texas State a 2-0 lead.

Cooper rallied in the sixth to sit Texas State down in order, but a chalk-drawing double by Jeff McVaney opened the seventh and made way for another two-run frame to be charged to the hurler. A groundout moved the sophomore to the corner and Kubitza rapped in his second RBI of the night with a right field single. The sophomore came home one at-bat later on a Clint Vest single into right center.

Vest, who went 1-for-4 in tonight's game, was stunning in the field, tallying a season-high six assists and three putouts.

The Bobcats tacked on its final run in the ninth on a wild pitch from reliever Cullen Babin. All told, Texas State had eight hits, doubling Nicholls' effort at the plate.

The Bobcats are now 21-7 against Southland Conference opponents and 31-17 overall. The Colonels dropped to 22-26 overall and 11-17 in the league. Texas State remains ahead in the Southland Conference race by two games after Southeastern Louisiana (19-9 SLC) took a 5-1 victory over Stephen F. Austin (18-9 SLC) this afternoon.

Tomorrow's game against Nicholls is set for 3 p.m. Gametracker along with Twitter updates will be available.