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San Marcos, Texas – Casey Kalenkosky hit his 19th home run of the season to break the Texas State single-season record and propel the Bobcats to a 5-2 victory against Southeastern Louisiana in an elimination game on day two of the Southland Conference Tournament at Bobcat Ballpark.
Kalenkosky's record-setting blast came as part of a five-run seventh inning that broke a 15-inning scoreless drought for the Bobcats to begin the SLC Tournament. The first baseman passed former Bobcats, Paul Goldschmidt and Luke Cannon, who shared the single-season record of 18 home runs.
The No. 1 seed Bobcats move on to play another day in the double-elimination Southland Conference Tournament as the team will play the loser of the matchup between No. 8 seed Nicholls and No. 5 seed Sam Houston State. The Bobcats (36-21) next game will take place at noon on Friday at Bobcat Ballpark.
Southeastern Louisiana (35-22) held a 2-0 lead heading into the seventh inning after scoring single runs in the first and fifth innings off of Texas State starter Carson Smith, but the Bobcats benefitted from a crucial Southeastern Louisiana error that helped lead to the Bobcats' big inning.
After the Lions retired the first two Bobcats in the bottom of the seventh, Christian Gallegos was hit by a pitch before consecutive singles from Tyler Sibley and Bret Atwood brought home the first Texas State run of the tournament and left runners on the corners. Then, a pop-up to left field was misplayed by the Lions' outfielder and allowed both Sibley and Atwood to come home for a 3-2 Texas State lead.
One pitch later, Kalenkosky hit a home run over the wall in left field to stake the Bobcats to a 5-2 lead and give Texas State the victory.
Smith pitched his second complete game for the Bobcats this season as he improved to 9-3. He recorded 10 strikeouts on the afternoon while limiting Southeastern Louisiana to just four hits and two runs. The Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year, Smith now has 124 strikeouts this season and needs just four more to surpass the record of 127 set by Blake Williams in 2000.
Brandon Efferson (8-5) was charged with the loss for Southeastern Louisiana after allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings for the visitors. He struck out eight and walked just one on the day.
Kalenkosky (2-for-3) was one of three Bobcats with two hits on the day. Atwood (2-for-4) and Sibley (2-for-3) also had a pair of base-knocks on the day. Atwood, who broke the Texas State career hits record on Friday night against Nicholls, now has 249 hits for his Bobcat career.
Texas State now awaits the loser of the Sam Houston State/Nicholls game for its next opponent on Friday at noon.
Texas State Coach Ty Harrington
“It was a game with two really good baseball teams going right at each other. I thought it was very competitive. Both teams tried to play good defense and obviously both teams played incredibly well. For six innings we couldn't do much, and finally one of our seniors Bret Atwood comes up with a big hit and we finally score a run.”
On decision to leave Carson Smith in for the ninth “The decision in the ninth is do you go with Smitty (Carson Smith) or do you go with your closer? Smitty wanted the baseball, and when you got a guy as good as he is, who'd only given up three hits, it's hard to turn him away.”
Texas State First Baseman Casey Kalenkosky
On the pop fly hit by Kyle Kubitza “We knew it was going to be a tough play. They were playing him pretty deep since he can sting the ball at any time. When it went up you start hoping, see them running and see it drop in the middle.”
On school-record 19th home run
“It felt really good. I knew the pitcher had to be rattled after the pop fly and he wanted to throw a strike and get ahead in the count. I was able to take advantage of an opportunity. I saw it was a first pitch fastball he threw to Kyle and I knew when I got up there he was going to try to work ahead.”
Texas State Starting Pitcher Carson Smith
On getting run support late “I was battling all game and I knew the hitters were battling too up at the plate. Balls weren't going our way, but we finally found some holes and the ball dropped in front of the left fielder.”
On the pop fly hit by Kyle Kubitza
“I was praying it was going to drop. I looked at him and thought the sun might be in his eyes a little bit. I thought I heard the shortstop call him off, so lucky for us he had trouble with it.”
Southeastern Louisiana Coach Jay Artiques
On starting pitcher Brandon Efferson's performance “Brandon did a great job. He was locating all three of his pitches. He threw his slider for strikes, threw his curveball for strikes, and had a good handle on his fastball. He did a great job today.”
On Jeff Harkensee's error in left field in the seventh inning “It was a tough play. It was a high sky, and the ball got up there, and it was tough to see.”
