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Baseball: Santa Clara Gallery
San Marcos, Texas – Texas State had its season opener spoiled after controlling most of the game as Santa Clara pushed across an unearned run in the top of the 13th inning to squeak out a 5-4 win over the Bobcats at Bobcat Ballpark on Saturday.
Texas State, ranked No. 35 in the Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll, led for the majority of the game before a two-run eighth inning for the Broncos tied the game at 4-4. The game went into extra innings, and the Bobcats had an opportunity to end it in the bottom of the 11th with the bases loaded and no outs; however, Santa Clara struck out the next two Bobcats before a popup ended the inning for Texas State.
In the bottom of the 12th, Texas State again had an opportunity to push across the winning run after Morgan Mickan started the inning with a double to put a runner in scoring position with no outs, but yet again, Santa Clara escaped the inning with the game tied at 4-4.
After two quick outs to begin the frame, Santa Clara took advantage of a Texas State error with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 13th inning to plate the winning run.
Texas State starting pitcher Colton Turner turned on a solid performance in his first action of the season, tossing a career-high 7 2/3 innings while allowing just one earned run and striking out five Broncos. He finished the game with a no-decision after leaving the game in line for the victory.
After a short appearance from Garrett Shepperd, senior Jeff McVaney came in to pitch 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball. Dylan Adamek relived McVaney and threw a career-high four innings, striking out three. He allowed just one hit but was charged with the loss after Santa Clara scored in the 13th.
Paul Twinning (1-0) earned the win for Santa Clara after throwing three innings of scoreless relief.
McVaney was one of three Bobcats who had two hits at the plate, finishing 2 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI. Mickan (2 for 5, RBI) and Tyler Sibley (2 for 6, run scored) also had multiple hits for the Bobcats. Cody Gambill also went 1 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Texas State will look to pick up its first win of the 2012 season on Sunday afternoon when the team plays Wichita State at 3 p.m. at Bobcat Ballpark. Junior RHP Travis Ballew will make his first start of the season for the Bobcats.
