Box Score

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State put on a dominating performance in every phase of the game Saturday en route to a 13-0 shutout of Northern Kentucky. Taylor Black only allowed one hit while striking 10 batters out in a run-ruled seven-inning game. The Norse only put four runners on base. Meanwhile, Black received plenty of run support from the lineup as the Bobcats put up eight runs in the first and five more in the third and fourth innings.
 
The seniors in the lineup put together an impressive day. Centerfielder Morgan Mickan was a perfect 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBI and two runs scored while Andrew Stumph walked three times but racked up three RBI on a 1-for-2 day with a run scored. Senior outfielder Kevin Sah was 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI in his first start of the season.
 
Shortstop Garrett Mattlage (2-for-5, two runs, an RBI), catcher Tyler Pearson (1-for-3, a walk, an RBI and a run), outfielder Colby Targun (2-for-4 with a run) and second baseman J.D. Stinnett (1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and two runs) also had great days.
 
Sah, batting leadoff, reached on an error by the Northern Kentucky first baseman to start the game. Mickan singled and Mattlage bunted to load the bases. Stumph followed with a double to deep left field for the first two runs of the game.
 
Mattlage scored next on a Ben McElroy groundout, and Stumph came home on a Pearson walk. Targun followed with a single to left centerfield and Matt Smith walked to load the bases again. Stinnett singled to plate Pearson and Sah singled through the left side to knock in Targun. Mickan kept the ball rolling with a single to shallow center field to score Smith, and then Stinnett came home on a Mattlage foul out.
 
By the end of the first, Texas State put up eight runs on seven hits. Northern Kentucky couldn't crack Black and didn't even put a runner on base until the third inning on a walk. With the runner on, Black struck out the next batter and retired the one after that on a groundout to Mattlage. Northern Kentucky would not put a runner on base against until the fifth.
 
Black and the Texas State defense retired seven consecutive batters to start the game and put down 21 of 25 batters for the day.
 
In the third, Sah led off with a bunt, which worked well for Texas State most of the day. Mickan walked after that, and Mattlage loaded the bases with another bunt. Stumph picked up an RBI when he worked the count for a bases loaded walk. McElroy grounded into a double play, but the Bobcats even scored on that. Pearson was next at bat and brought Mattlage in to make it 11-0.
 
Smith scored in the fourth inning on a scoring error while Mickan scored Stinnett with a sacrifice fly for the final scoring of the game.
 
Texas State and Northern Kentucky will play the tiebreaker in the final game of the series at 11 a.m. Sunday at Bobcat Ballpark.