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San Marcos, Texas – Junior Jeff McVaney had a career game on Sunday afternoon at Bobcat Ballpark as he led Texas State to a 14-7 victory over McNeese State. McVaney became just the second Bobcat in the program's history, and the first since 1987, to hit three home runs in a game.
McVaney hit home runs in the second, seventh and eighth innings as part of a 3-for-3 day at the plate. He reached all five of his plate appearances, also taking a walk and getting hit by a pitch. The left fielder now has 10 home runs on the season after hitting four during the series with McNeese State. He joined former Bobcat, Wade Haynes, who accomplished the feat against Texas Wesleyan on February 26, 1987, as the two Texas State players to hit three homers in a game.
McVaney's bat was not the only one that was hot on Sunday though as Texas State hit a season-high six home runs in the game. The six bombs were the most since the team hit a program-best seven against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on February 23, 2002.
Joining McVaney with home runs on Sunday were Casey Kalenkosky, Kyle Kubitza and Cody Gambill. Kalenkosky's shot was his Southland Conference-leading 16th of the season, while Kubitza's was his sixth. Gambill's home run was his third this year.
The Bobcats finished Sunday's game with 14 runs and 17 hits as the team scored in six of eight innings en route to its 28th victory this year.
Kalenkosky (3-for-4) had three hits, two runs scored and two RBIs on the afternoon, while Bret Atwood (3-for-5) also had three hits to go along with a pair of runs scored and RBIs. Kubitza (2-for-5), Andrew Stumph (2-for-4) and Clint Vest (2-for-4) also had multi-hit games for the Bobcats.
Before the Bobcats' offensive onslaught, the Cowboys took advantage of some shaky Texas State defense in the first inning to push across three unearned runs following a costly two-out error, grabbing a 3-0 lead before the Bobcats came to the plate.
But the visitor's lead would not last long as Texas State came back in bottom of the second inning to tie the game at 3-3. McVaney started the inning with his second home run in as many days to cut the Bobcats' deficit to 3-1, and Vest came through with a two-out, two-RBI single to center field to bring home Kalenkosky and Stumph to tie the game.
Texas State then took the lead in the bottom of the third after Kalenkosky doubled off the wall in left field to bring home McVaney for a 4-3 Bobcat advantage. McVaney walked and stole second earlier in the inning before Kalenkosky drove in his 49th RBI of the year.
Texas State starter Colton Turner continued to put zeros up on the scoreboard after the first inning, helping the Bobcats maintain their lead after the third inning. Turner, who allowed just one hit between the second and fifth innings, struck out seven batters through the first five innings.
The top of the Texas State lineup helped add a run in the fifth inning when leadoff-man Tyler Sibley tripled to the gap in right-center field to begin the frame before Atwood singled up the middle to bring home the Bobcats' fifth run.
The Bobcats scored for the fourth time in five innings when Gambill hit a home run to deep right field for his third of the season and a 6-3 Texas State lead.
However, an error would cost the Bobcats their lead in the top of the seventh as the Cowboys scored three runs, two of which were unearned, to even the score at 6-6 heading into the seventh-inning stretch.
Once again, the Texas State offense would pick up the slack to help the Bobcats retake the lead. A single from Kubitza moved Atwood from first to third before a wild pitch allowed the senior to come home for a 7-6 lead. McVaney and Kalenkosky then hit back-to-back home runs off McNeese State relief pitchers to extend the Texas State lead to 9-6 heading into the eighth inning.
The Bobcats blew open the game with a five-run eighth inning highlighted by a mammoth three-run home run from Kubitza to right field which was immediately followed by McVaney's third home run of the game.
Texas State took a 14-6 lead following the eighth inning and would close out the game with a 14-7 win after the Cowboys scored a run in the top of the ninth.
Travis Ballew (2-1) came in to pitch the final 3 2/3 innings for Texas State as he earned his second win of the season. The sophomore struck out four and allowed two earned runs, three hits and a walk as he helped Texas State improve to 28-16 overall and 17-7 in the Southland Conference.
Zach Butler (4-3) was charged with the loss for McNeese State after allowing seven runs over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out five and allowed just one walk before exiting in the seventh inning. McNeese State dropped to 21-25, 10-14 SLC with the loss.
Texas State will return to action at Bobcat Ballpark on Friday, May 6 when the Bobcats host UTSA in the first game of a three-game series at 6:30 p.m. Games two and three of the series will be played in San Antonio. For tickets to Friday's game, contact the Texas State Athletics Ticket Office.
