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San Marcos, Texas – Junior Jeff McVaney showed that he can do a little bit of everything in helping lead the Texas State baseball team to a 7-5 victory over visiting Southeastern Louisiana in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Bobcat Ballpark. The Houston native helped Bobcats win the season series against the Lions after taking two of three over the weekend.
McVaney sparked the Bobcats at the plate, on the bases and on the mound. He finished the game 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and a walk in addition to having a heads-up base running play in the crucial bottom of the sixth inning. On the mound, the southpaw came in to pitch the final 2 2/3 innings for his second save of the season. He did not allow a hit and struck out three while lowering his season ERA to a measly 0.68.
“I wanted to have a good game after I didn't play as well as I wanted yesterday,” McVaney said. “I'm always excited for the opportunity to come in and pitch.”
McVaney was not alone with his standout performance on Sunday as Kyle Kubitza, Casey Kalenkosky and Morgan Mickan each had large roles in the Texas State victory. Kubitza finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and his fifth home run of the season, while Kalenkosky hit his Southland Conference-leading 14th home run of the season and second in as many games. Mickan finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI after getting the start as the team's designated hitter.
“I was proud of them focusing on the current moment,” said Texas State head coach Ty Harrington. “I am pleased after we lost Friday to come back and win the series.”
The Bobcats improved to 23-12 overall and 13-5 in the Southland Conference to remain atop the conference standings. Texas State is tied with Stephen F. Austin, which defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Sunday afternoon, for the conference lead.
With the loss, Southeastern Louisiana fell to 24-13 overall and 10-8 in the SLC.
Colton Turner started the game for Texas State and allowed two earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts. He lasted four innings before giving way to Fielding Pittman, who tossed a scoreless fifth inning. Joseph Dvorsky (2-0) came in and threw 1 1/3 innings while allowing two runs, both unearned, but earned his second win of the season after Kalenkosky's homer in the sixth inning put the Bobcats in front for good.
McVaney relieved Dvorsky with one out in the seventh inning and faced the minimum over the next 2 2/3 innings in picking up the save.
Southeastern Louisiana starter Josh Janway (3-1) was charged with his first loss of the season after he allowed six runs over 5 1/3 innings.
A pair of two-run homers in the first and sixth innings for the Bobcats provided much of the offense for Texas State in Sunday's game. After Tyler Sibley walked to start the bottom half of the first inning, Kubitza put a charge into the third pitch he saw from Janway for a homer to right field and a 2-1 Texas State lead, and Kalenkosky's two-run shot off Janway in the sixth chased the SLU starter from the game and proved to be the game winner.
The Bobcats return to the field on Monday when they welcome Texas Tech to Bobcat Ballpark for a game at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available in advance at the Texas State Athletics Ticket Office or on the day of the game at the ticket booth outside of Bobcat Ballpark.
