2,593 fans showed up to watch the Texas State Bobcats host the #4 Texas Longhorns on opening day of the new Bobcat baseball field.
The Bobcats got an early jump, scoring 3 runs in the first two innings. Bobcat left fielder, Tyler Sibley, scored on a throwing error in the first inning. Texas State got 2 more runs in the second inning off the bats of Adam Witek and Sibley. Bobcat starting pitcher, Michael Russo, cruised through the first 3 innings allowing only 1 hit, 1 walk and recording 1 strikeout. The score remained 3-0 in favor of the Bobcats through 3.
Brandon Belt and Michael Torres got the action started for the Longhorns in the 4th inning with 2 quick singles. Russo then struck out the next 2 batters to seemingly get out of trouble. A walk to load the bases and 2 singles later, the Longhorns tied the game. Texas brought 8 men to the plate in the 4th and scored 3 runs with 2 outs.
The Bobcats looked to respond with their own big 4th inning. State loaded the bases in the bottom of the 4th with help from an error (E6), a hit batter and a bunt single. Bobcat first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt, stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and 1 out. After battling to a full count, Goldschmidt chopped a slow bouncer into a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning.
The score remained a 3-3 tie through the 5th inning. The top of the 6th inning would spell the end for Russo. He was replaced by RHP Tim Heath. Russo went 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits; he added 4 strikeout and 4 walks. The Bobcats got out of the 6th inning by striking out 2 and throwing out Kevin Keyes on an attempt to steal 2nd. Texas State broke the 3-3 tie in the bottom of the 6th. Witek reached 1st on an error, and later came around to score on a single to left center field by Brett Atwood. The Bobcats added 1 more run off 2 singles from Goldschmidt and Spenser Dennis, and took a 5-3 lead into the 7th.
Texas State pitcher, Heath, was replaced in the top of the 7th, by RHP Kane Holbrooks. Heath went 1 inning, giving up 0 runs on 1 hit; he added 2 strikeouts and 1 walk.
The Longhorns added 1 run in the 7th with a blast over the left center field wall off the bat of Belt. The Bobcats responded with a 1-2-3 inning. The score was 5-4 through 7 innings in favor of the Bobcats.
Holbrooks was replaced, in the top of the 8th inning, by RHP Tyler Brundridge. Holbrooks went 1 inning, giving up 1 run on 1 hit; he added 1 strikeout
Keyes started the 8th inning for the Longhorns with a walk. He reached second on a balk. Keyes scored on a single by Moldenhauer to tie the game at 5 a piece. Later in the inning the Longhorns took the lead when Travis Tucker lined a single to left field and brought in David Hernandez from second base. The Bobcats couldn't get anything going in the bottom of the 8th. The score remained 6-5 in favor of the Longhorns through 8 innings.
RHP Loftin replaced Brundridge in the 9th inning. Brundridge allowed 2 runs on 3 hits; he added 2 strikeouts.
The Bobcats held the Longhorns scoreless in the 9th inning. Loftin added 1 strikeout to give the Bobcat pitching staff 10 total on the night. With 2 outs, a man on first, bottom of the 9th, Bobcat right fielder, Laurn Randell, grounded to the pitcher to end the night for the Bobcats.
Although the Bobcats didn't come out with the victory against a very tough Longhorns team, it was still a night of history. One would only hope that the fans will continue to come out and give the same excitement that they gave tonight to carry the Cats through the rest of the season.
The Bobcats fall to a 6-3 record overall and start a weekend series against Purdue this Friday. You can catch all the action on txstatebobcats.com.
Thomas Courtney- KTSW Sports Staff Writer
1 comment:
Very informative, I almost felt as if I was there. GO TEXAS STATE!!
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