Here We Go Again: Texas State Eliminated By Second Consecutive Late-Game Collapse

That was that. Over and out. Two up two down. Whatever you want to call it, the Texas State baseball team is out of the NCAA regionals with an 0-2 record after losing 7-4 to Army on Saturday.

It was a painful loss that came much in the same vein as yesterday’s game with a late inning rally erasing wonderful starting pitching. The difference today was that instead of the relief pitching faltering it was errors that did the Bobcats in as four of the seven Army runs were unearned. Starting pitcher Brian Borski went 6 1/3 innings allowing only one earned run.

Texas State, being the visiting team started out the game with a score in the top of the 1st. All everything first baseman Paul Goldschmidt doubled and was brought in on an RBI single by Keith Prestridge.

Borski had a bit of a control problem starting out walking one batter and hitting another in the bottom of the first inning. The two runners would not be a problem as Borski would strand both of them without allowing them to advance at all.

Each team stranded two runners in the second inning but managed to bring in a run a piece in the third inning. If you had to wonder who was going to score the Bobcat’s second run of the game you may not have watched many games this year. Paul Goldschmidt singled and was brought in this time by Spenser Dennis. After a solo shot by Army’s Joey Henshaw, the 6’7 250 lbs designated hitter, in the bottom of the third the score stood at 2-1.

In the bottom of the fourth a would be double play gone wrong allowed the tying run to come across the plate. A slow hit ball to Kyle Livingstone at second was picked up just in time to tag the passing runner. The throw to Paul Goldschmidt to complete the double play went in and out of Goldschmidt’s glove and back to the wall. The out would have ended the inning. This was only first of four unearned runs to come across the plate.

A triple to wall in the sixth would eventually allowed Jason Martinson to come around and score and another Spenser Dennis RBI in the seventh would give the Bobcats a 4-2 lead.

In yesterday’s game it was the top of the ninth that did in Texas State. Today’s game there was a bit of a preemptive strike with the game winning rally starting in the bottom of the eighth instead. A throwing error by Martinson would allow the first batter of the inning reach base safely and advance to second. A quick single would score in the run. After one out a single and walk caused reliever Lance Loftin to be replaced by Tyler Brundridge after the bases had been loaded. Brundridge walked the first batter to walk in the tying run of the ball game and leave the bases juiced with only one out. After a sacrifice fly scored one more run an error by Livingstone at second base allowed the bases to become loaded again. Once again this error would have been the final out of the inning. Up came Henshaw again but it wasn’t a home run this time that would do the damage. It was a simple bloop single to center field that would score the final two runs necessary.

The top of the ninth came and went with only Bret Atwood reaching base with a lead off walk. Two fielder’s choices later and one ground ball and a historic season for the Bobcats came to a disappointing end.

Records were broken, great games were played and it was an impressive season for Texas State, making the loss quite bittersweet. Two games in a row, the Bobcats outplayed Boston College and Army until their opponents' respective final half innings at bat. Two games in a row that final half inning saw a roaring comeback with just enough runs to win for the Eagles and Black Knights. Yesterday’s loss may have been one of the most painful of the season but today’s did its best to match the feeling.

It was a year many felt was magical, and in many ways it was. However, all of those fans as well as the heartbroken Bobcat players looking for a chance at redemption will have to wait until next year.

-Dalton Sweat, KTSW Sports Staff Writer