Bobcat Baseball Wins the Southland Conference

It couldn't have been more dramatic at Bobcat Field Sunday afternoon.

Colonel starting pitcher, Ryan Cooper, held the Bobcats to only one run through five innings. The Bobcat bats finally came to life in the 6th when Lance Loftin hit a two run triple, Jason Martinson followed with an RBI double and Kyle Kubitza hit a RBI single to give the Bobcats a one run lead; that would spell the end for Cooper. Nicholls responded with two runs in the 8th to regain the lead. The Bobcats went scoreless in the 8th and Nicholls was held scoreless in the top of the 9th.

The stage was set for a dramatic win. The Bobcats went in to the bottom of the 9th down by one, and had the top of the lineup due to bat. Tyler Sibley got it started when he reached 1st on a high chopper in front of home plate. The ball bounced 20 feet in the air and once Colonel closer, Ross Larson, got a handle on it, it was too late. Bret Atwood bunted Sibley over to 2nd. Paul Goldschmidt came up and ripped a double down the 3rd base line scoring Sibley from 2nd and tying the game. With Goldschmidt representing the winning run and standing on 2nd base, Spenser Dennis came to the plate. Dennis smacked the first pitch he saw into right field and drove in Goldschmidt from 2nd to secure the win. Colonel right fielder, Jacob Knight, made a diving effort to catch Dennis' hit ball, however, once it rolled past his glove the Bobcat dugout exploded onto the field and dogpiled in celebration. Lance Loftin lead the Bobcat offense by going 2 for 3 with three RBI and a run. Goldschmidt finished with two hits, one RBI and three runs.

Bobcat starting pitcher, Zach Tritz, went 5.1 innnings giving up three unearned runs on 11 hits; he added five strikeouts. Lance Loftin pitched 2.1 innings of relief, he gave up three runs, two earned on five hits; he added two strikeouts. Michael Russo closed the game out for the Bobcats and earned the win to move to 3-2 on the season. Larson earned the loss.

Nicholls had 17 hits to Texas State's 13. Goldschmidt, Dennis, Loftin, Martinson and Kubitza all had at least one RBI. Dennis finished the game hitting .423. The Bobcat defense was sloppy at times as they committed three errors. Texas State improves to 37-12 (23-6 SLC) with the victory, and Nicholls drops to 18-31(8-22 SLC). The baseball team will take a trip to College Station to face the nationally ranked Aggies on Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.. You can catch all the action on 89.9 FM KTSW, KTSW.net, or txstatebobcats.com.

- Thomas Courtney, KTSW Sports Staff Writer