Box Score
Box Score (PDF)
San Marcos, Texas – A grand slam and four hits led to a seven-run seventh inning for the Bobcats to give them a series sweep against Akron, 12-2, Sunday at Bobcat Ballpark.
Lee Colon (1-0) led the Bobcats to victory while Zach Yike (0-2) took the loss.
Akron's James Sheltrown began the game for the Zips hitting a line drive to deep right field for a double. One batter later, Sheltrown was unable to advance with Isaac Nuti throwing to Kyle Kubitza at third for the fielder's choice. Colon followed with two strikeouts to end the first half of the inning.
Through two innings of play, a pitcher's duel occurred between Colon and Yike. Both pitchers had four strikeouts after being on the mound twice with Colon allowing two hits and Yike one.
In his fourth at-bat of the season, catcher Andrew Lacombe sent the ball down the left field line for a double, landing on second base for his first hit of the season. Lacombe advanced to third after Clint Vest grounded out to first base for a fielder's choice. Lacombe scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third when Joey Fuda flied out to right field for his third RBI of the young season.
Akron began the fourth inning putting a runner in scoring position when shortstop Sam Watkins sent a line drive to the left field wall for a stand-up double. Watkins scored when a grounder to third took an odd bounce to get past Kubitza to tie the game, 1-1. The Bobcats ended the top of the fourth inning with a 5-4-3 double play to escape the inning.
The Bobcats regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Jeff McVaney hit a lead-off double to deep center field. Casey Kalenkosky followed McVaney's double with his third homerun of the season past the center field wall to give Texas State a 3-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the fifth, Akron changed pitchers with Jon Pusateri getting the call to replace Yike after he pitched four innings allowing seven hits, three runs and striking out six.
Kalenkosky began the bottom of the sixth with a stand-up double to the right field wall for his second hit of the game. Kalenkosky advanced to third on Andrew Stumph's grounder to second base and scored when Nuti hit a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Bobcats a 4-1 lead.
A wild pitch gave the Bobcats another run in the sixth, scoring Lacombe and advancing Vest to third.
Junior pitcher Dylan Adamek made his Bobcat debut in the top of the seventh after Colon gave up six hits, one run and two walks in addition to five strikeouts.
Akron's Drew Turocy homered with two outs to left field in the seventh, shrinking the lead to three at 5-2. Brandon White and Sam Trecaso kept the Zips going each with singles but a grounder to Nuti ended the inning for Akron with a force out at second.
Kubitza got the Bobcats going in the bottom of the seventh with a walk followed by McVaney's high bouncer through the hole into left field. Kalenkosky then offered the sacrifice bunt to advance both runners into scoring position. An intentional walk to pinch hitter Cody Gambill gave the Bobcats bases loaded with Isaac Nuti coming to the plate.
After Nuti was hit in the elbow with the first pitch, he was called back to the plate after the umpire ruled he did not attempt to avoid the throw. Nuti sent the next pitch he saw deep past the left field wall for a grand slam and a 9-2 score.
The seventh-inning rally continued with a walk for Lacombe followed by Vest reaching on an error by Akron's third baseman Jason Corzine. A double by Fuda gave the Bobcats a 10-2 lead. The Bobcats run ruled the Zips when Corey Falvey singled home two runs, scoring Vest and Fuda for a 12-2 win.
The Bobcats (5-2) will travel to Waco on Tuesday, March 1 for their first away game of the season to take on Baylor (3-3) with a 4 p.m. start.
