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Natchitoches, La. – Tyler Sibley recorded his fourth career four-hit game and scored the eventual winning run to lead the Texas State baseball team to a 7-6 victory over Northwestern State on Friday night at Brown-Stroud Field in Natchitoches, La. The series is now tied at 1-1 entering the regular season finale for both teams on Saturday.
Texas State took a 2-0 lead after the first inning when four of the first five Bobcats recorded hits to start the game and chase the Northwestern State starter from the game. After Sibley led off the game with a double, Jeff McVaney singled to put runners on the corners. Casey Kalenkosky and Andrew Stumph then followed with consecutive RBI singles to give the visitors a two-run cushion.
The second inning was even better for Texas State as the Bobcats pushed across three more runs. The first three batters of the inning reached base before Morgan Mickan's RBI fielder's choice brought home Isaac Nuti for a 3-0 score. After a double steal by Mickan and freshman Brooks Orton scored the second run of the inning, Kalenkosky hit his second RBI single of the game to put the Bobcats ahead 5-0 after two frames.
A two-out rally in the third inning brought home the another run for Texas State as Nuti and Orton both reached base ahead of Sibley, who laced his third hit of the game for a 6-0 score after three innings.
However, Northwestern State would make the game interesting in the fifth inning when the Demons scored four runs to pull within two, 6-4. It could have been more for the home team as Northwestern State loaded the bases with one out, but head coach Ty Harrington went to his bullpen and Ross Goebel who came in to strike out both batters he faced to get the Bobcats out of the inning with a two-run lead.
McVaney's sacrifice fly in the sixth inning brought home Sibley for a 7-4 score, but the Demons responded in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs assisted by a Texas State error to make the score 7-6.
Bobcat reliever Austen Williams came in to pitch perfect seventh and eighth innings. He then recorded one out in the ninth before two Demons reached base, and the Bobcats again went to the bullpen and Louis Head. Head struck out both batters he faced in a high-pressure situation to secure the team's one-run victory and earn his third save of the season.
Texas State starter Colton Turner went 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs while striking out five as he left without a decision.
Goebel (2-1) earned his second win of the season after pitching 1 2/3 innings with all five of his outs coming by way of strikeout. The five punch outs were a career high as he limited the Demons to one earned run on three hits.
The Bobcats (30-22) earned their 30th win of the season and improved to 18-14 in the Southland Conference. The team retains its position tied for third in the SLC standings with UT Arlington. The Bobcats hold the tie-breaker over UTA for the No. 3 seed in next week's Southland Conference Tournament.
Northwestern State had its Southland Conference Tournament hopes take a hit as the Demons fell to 14-18 in the conference and a tie for the eighth and final spot in the tournament. Northwestern State is tied with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, but the Islanders hold the tie-breaker over the Demons.
Northwestern State starter Jamie Bittle lasted just 1/3 of an inning as he allowed four hits and a pair of runs before being pulled from the game. Bittle fell to 1-3 on the season.
Sibley finished the game 4 for 5 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and an RBI, while Kalenkosky was 2 for 3 with a pair of RBIs. Nuti went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and McVaney added a 2 for 4 night at the plate with a run scored and an RBI.
Texas State and Northwestern State will finish the three-game set on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Brown-Stroud Field. Sophomore Kyle Finnegan (5-6, 3.43 ERA) will make the start for the Bobcats.
