Bears Hand The Bobcats Their First Taste Of Defeat

It all made sense. Two, big division one baseball programs going at each other in forty degree weather, plus the addition of a twenty five mile an hour wind blowing in toward home plate, plus two respective Friday night starters, equals a low scoring 3-2 outcome full of small ball and too many men left on base. The only problem was that the Bobcats ended up on the wrong side of this affair and for the first time got to feel the sour taste of a bitter one run loss. The honest truth is that there will most likely be at least another 15 games for the bobcats this year that end up in a one run difference; Maybe this sour taste will prevent Friday afternoon's decision from being a habit.

All cynicism aside, Texas State fell short today due to a few key missed opportunities late in the ballgame and the Baylor Bears capitalized when they absolutely needed to. It was the first game of the QTI Baylor Classic and they crowd of only a few hundred got to see the Bobcats and Bears match each other step for step until the Bobcats merely ran out of outs. A sacrifice fly off of the bat of Baylor's catcher Gregg Glime in the bottom of the eighth inning put the Bears up 3-2 which would remain the final score.

Baylor starter Shawn Tolleson dismissed the Bobcats rather quickly through the first two innings, notching four strikeouts and not letting a ball leave the infield. On the other hand, the Bears got to Michael Russo quickly in the first inning with two lead off hits and a 4-6-3 double play off of the bat of first baseman Max Muncy that put them out in front 1-0 early. Although Russo failed to tally a strikeout, he managed to spread out five hits, two runs, and only one walk through a full six innings of hard work. Texas State got the offense going in the top of the third by being aggressive at the plate for the first time in the ball game with back to back doubles at the bottom of the lineup from Shaun Garcia and Jordan Kopycinski; which at the time tied the score up at one in the frame. After 2 1/2 scoreless frames, the Bobcats took the lead in the top of the sixth by scratching out a run that started with Jason Martinson getting hit by a pitch and ending with a clutch two out single up the middle from Shaun Garcia that plated Martinson and made it a 2-1 ballgame; but the lead did not last long. In the bottom of the sixth, the Bears tied up the game with a single, a sacrifice bunt, and an RBI single from Raynor Campbell which would also put an end to Russo's day. Carson Smith came in for the Bobcats and peppered 93-95 mph around the plate for the seventh and eight innings, but was issued the tough slated loss for the unearned run in the eighth inning. The run was caused by a very tough play in the hole for Kyle Kubitza that initially looked as if he was going to turn a double play, but he couldn't pull through. Immediately following the momentum swing, Brooks Pinkard came in for the Bears and shut the books on the afternoon for the Texas State Bobcats with a non-threatening three out save.

The loss makes the 'Cats' record fall to 3-1 in the early stages of what will be a very competitive and exciting schedule for them this year. The loss also breaks a two game win streak that Texas State held over the Baylor Bears from last season; but the Bobcats get plenty of chances for revenge, as they are slated to play Baylor two more times this year. The good thing is that Western Kentucky and Texas A&M are both waiting for equally competitive games this weekend, and will give the Bobcats much needed competition that will help Coach Ty Harrington to get his lineup in order for when Southland Conference play begins. Look for better weather and a hungry Texas State offense tomorrow as they face the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at 5pm; not to mention a little shift in the line up card (But we all know that's necessary in February).

-Weston Warner, KTSW Sports Staff Writer