SLC Tournament: Stephen F. Austin Gallery
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San Marcos, Texas – Texas State recorded its first run-rule victory of the 2012 season on Wednesday as the Bobcats defeated Stephen F. Austin 11-1 in the first round of the Southland Conference Tournament at Bobcat Ballpark. The Bobcats advanced in the winner's bracket and will play at 7 p.m. on Thursday night against Southeastern Louisiana.
Holding a 10-1 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh inning, Morgan Mickan tripled to left field with one out to put the winning run 90 feet away. Three batters later, Colby Targun stood on as the Stephen F. Austin catcher allowed a pitch to get past him to the backstop and let Mickan scamper home for the walk-off run. The run was the fourth scored on the afternoon by Mickan who finished the game a home run shy of the cycle, going 4 for 5 with two singles, a double and a triple.
Jeff McVaney finished Wednesday's game 2 for 2 with a walk, a pair of runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base while extending his streak of consecutive at-bats with a hit to seven. He went 5 for 5 in the regular season finale before being perfect again in Wednesday's game. McVaney also had his 20th double of the season to put him tied for third place in doubles in a season at Texas State.
Tyler Sibley went 2 for 5 with a pair of runs scored, while Casey Kalenkosky went 1 for 3 with a home run. Targun finished 1 for 2 with a run scored and two RBIs, while Isaac Nuti went 1 for 3 with two RBIs.
Kalenkosky gave the Bobcats a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when he crushed the first pitch he saw over the fence in left field for his team-leading 10th home run of the season. Targun then followed with a walk and came home two batters later on an RBI single up the middle from fellow-freshman Brooks Orton that make the score 3-0 Bobcats after one inning.
After SFA scored one in the top of the second inning, the Bobcats responded with a four-spot in the bottom of the second to take a 7-1 advantage. Texas State batted around for the second straight inning as the inning was highlighted by a two-RBI single from Nuti.
McVaney hit an RBI double in the third inning to make the score 8-1 before Targun's two-RBI single in the fifth inning put Texas State in position for its first run-rule victory of the season.
Not to be outdone by the offense, recently named Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year Travis Ballew showed why he earned that honor as he tossed his fourth complete game of the season. Ballew (11-4) struck out five and limited the visitors to just one run on seven hits for the game.
Texas State improved to 32-22 overall this season with the victory. Meanwhile, Chase Greening (5-7) took the loss as Stephen F. Austin dropped to 23-32 overall.
The Bobcats will look to extend their winning streak to four games on Thursday night when the team plays at 7 p.m. at Bobcat Ballpark.
Texas State head coach Ty Harrington
On the good start to the tournament
“I think any coach would tell you that they like to win game one. It's been awhile since we've won game one in this tournament. I thought today we had tremendous offensive focus and we were able to maintain offensive momentum. Hopefully we will carry it in to the rest of the tournament.”
On the team's play and confidence going into game two
“Hopefully our whole crowd will come out tomorrow night. They've been good all year long. Our support has been unbelievable. For us right now, I thought Travis Ballew was good enough. Then, went through a stretch where he lost his breaker there for a little bit, but he's got such tremendous competitiveness about him. Garrett Mattlage made two really tremendous double plays and Morgan Mickan made two great catches. I thought we played really good defense. I was pleased overall and was impressed with our momentum.”
On Ory Kalenkosky's first inning home run
“I thought Ory set a good tone for us. Everybody in the dugout felt really good after that. I think he felt better about what he's doing too. That's the kind of performance we're used to seeing from him.”
Texas State designated hitter Colby Targun
On this kind of momentum after game one
“It's good to get the bats rolling early in the tournament and save some pitching. Our confidence is definitely up.”
On who the team would prefer to face in the next round
“Whoever it is, we'll do our best and play Bobcat baseball.”
On not having to play until 7 p.m. tomorrow
“It's nice to get some rest. I know it's tough coming out of the loser's bracket so it's to be in the winner's bracket. Hopefully it works out for us getting ahead in this tournament.”
