May 27, 2010

Final Stats

Corpus Christi, Texas - Michael Russo enjoyed his longest start of the season and matched a career-high eight strikeouts in the eight-inning stay to lead the Texas State baseball team to an 8-2 victory over Stephen F. Austin in the elimination game of the Southland Conference tournament Thursday afternoon at Whataburger Field.

Texas State (35-21) will now play the loser of tonight's 7 p.m. contest between UT Arlington and Nicholls, Friday at noon. The winner of Friday's game will play at 7 p.m. Friday night, and the loser will be eliminated.

Russo (5-2) struck out Garret Smith to open today's game and held SFA with runners in scoring position to close out the inning unharmed. After a two-run homer in the second that trimmed Texas State's four-run lead in half, Russo proceeded to retire the next 16 of his 20 batters faced, included 1-2-3 innings in the fourth, fifth and seventh frame.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats offense jumped on SFA starter Brad Oates early, shortening his stay on the mound to just two innings. Oates issued a leadoff walk and tossed a wild pitch before he could get the first out of the game and Tyler Sibley had reached third by that time. The sophomore came home on at-bat later on a RBI single from Kyle Kubitza and Jason Martinson drove in Kyle Livingstone, who reached on an infield single, to give Texas State a 2-0 lead in the first.

Bret Atwood drove in two more runs in the top of the second to give the Bobcats a 4-0 edge and a leadoff walk in the fourth and fifth inning came back to haunt the Lumberjacks, as the Bobcats came around to score both times for a 6-2 lead after five complete innings.

Texas State tacked on its final pair of runs in the ninth when Sibley beat out a bunt to reach base. A sacrifice bunt followed from Atwood to advance Sibley and the sophomore rounded the bases on Kubitza's shallow drop into centerfield. Kubitza scored the final run on a double from Martinson.

Garret Carruth relieved Russo in the ninth with runners in scoring position, but forced riley Huble to ground out to short before retiring the final two batters on strikes to maintain the win.

Texas State finished with 13 hits to SFA's seven. Martinson went 3-for-5 with two RBI to lead the team.