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Arlington, Texas – The cold playing conditions did not seem to affect Jeff McVaney or Andrew Stumph on Friday night at Clay Gould Ballpark in Arlington. McVaney homered at the plate and recorded his 11th career save on the mound to set a new Texas State career record, and Stumph drove in the game-winning run as part of a 5-3 victory for the Bobcats over UT Arlington in the Southland Conference opener for both teams.
The Bobcats, ranked No. 21 in the latest Baseball America poll, won their Southland Conference opener for the sixth straight season in improving to 10-3 this season. Texas State how now won eight consecutive games.
UT Arlington dropped to 9-6 overall with the loss.
McVaney led off the second inning in impressive fashion as he crushed a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for his second home run of the season and 22nd of his career, placing him in a tie for seventh in the Texas state record books for career homers. The solo shot gave the Bobcats a 1-0 lead after an inning and a half.
UT Arlington came back to take the lead in the third inning without the help of a hit as the Mavericks took five walks to plate a pair of runs for a 2-1 advantage. The run ended a streak of eight consecutive games that Texas State starting pitchers had not given up an earned run and was also the first run given up by Colton Turner in his last 15 1/3 innings on the mound.
Texas State loaded the bases in the fourth inning with one out but could not manufacture a run as all three runners were left on bases. However, Texas State again loaded the bases with one out in the fifth and this time McVaney knocked in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly that made the score 2-2.
Meanwhile, Turner faced the minimum over his next 2 1/3 innings following UTA's two-run third inning and induced a double-play ground ball to get out of the sixth inning with the score still 2-2.
UTA threatened in the seventh inning but head coach Ty Harrington went to his bullpen and had Hunter Lemke and Donnie Hart come in to each deliver crucial strikeouts to get out of the inning.
The game remained tied until the top of the eighth inning when the Bobcats loaded the bases with one out for the third time in the game. After a fielder's choice put two outs on the board, Cody Lovejoy earned his first career RBI in unconventional fashion as he was hit by a pitch to bring home Nick Smelser for a 3-2 Texas State lead.
The home team came back with an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning to even the score at 3-3 heading to the ninth.
In the top of the ninth, Stumph came up with runners on first and second and punched a single through the right side to bring home Casey Kalenkosky for the game-winning run. The Bobcats would tack on one more in the inning as a wild pitch allowed McVaney to scamper home for the final 5-3 tally.
Turner pitched 6 1/3 innings on Friday night, limiting the Mavericks to just five hits and two runs while striking out five. The southpaw did not get a decision for the third time in four starts.
Dylan Adamek (2-1) came on to earn his second win of the season after tossing 2/3 of an inning of relief and McVaney finished the contest with a perfect ninth inning for his second save of the season and record-setting 11th of his career.
Stumph was 2 for 4 for the game with a run scored and RBI, while Kalenkosky extended his hitting streak to 12 games as he finished the game 2 for 5 with a pair of singles and run scored. McVaney finished 1 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
The Bobcats and Mavericks are scheduled to play the second game of the three-game set on Saturday beginning on 2 p.m. Inclement weather is in the forecast, so be sure to check in to TxStateBobcats.com for an potential time changes. Junior RHP Travis Ballew (3-0) is scheduled to make his fourth start of the season.
