Laurn Randell’s parents probably couldn’t decide which side to sit on at Bobcat Field on Tuesday night. The Randells were, on this night, a split house as Laurn’s father was a walk on for the baseball team at Texas A&M, and Laurn’s mother was a Texas State grad. The seating arrangement might have gotten tricky for the couple as Texas State’s “Maroon Out” was in affect and the stands were littered with Maroon shirts and jerseys. They might not have even found a seat if they showed up late, as a record attendance of 2,603 fans showed up to see the #22 Texas A&M Aggies against the Texas State Bobcats. The Maroon AND Gold-clad fans were treated to an exciting 6-5 walk-off Bobcat win in the 11th inning.
In what Kyle Kubitza called “an unforgettable game,” the Texas State Bobcats and Laurn Randell found themselves in the 11th inning of a tie game with 2 outs to go. Hopefully Mr. Randell was sitting with the Mrs. on the Texas State side, because like 2 years ago when Texas State played, then ranked, the #1 Rice Owls, Laurn delivered and sent Bobcat fans home happy.
Brian Borski faced the Aggies earlier this year in the QTI Baylor classic in Waco, TX. That outing ended in a loss with Borski going 7 innings and giving up 4 runs. On Tuesday it was Borski’s turn in the rotation again, according to Head Coach Harrington. Borski didn’t go 7 innings this time, but his changeup was on point and he left the game after 6.1 innings and only gave up 2 runs. More importantly Borski left with the lead and a win...if the bullpen did its job.
To counter Borski, the Aggies sent surgically repaired and highly touted sophomore Ross Hales to the mound. He was only to go a short while due to his rehabilitation. That brief appearance was still enough for him to get touched up, as after a 1-2-3 1st inning he gave up a lead off Home run to Jason Martinson in the 2nd. After striking out the next two, his night was done. In came Shane Minks (Sr.) for Texas A&M.
Borski started well, giving up 3 hits in the first 2 innings and no runs. A lead-off walk to Brodie Greene (Sr.) proved costly, as he was able to advance on a wild pitch and eventually score on a two out single by Joaquin Hinojosa (Jr.). After another wild pitch allowed Hinojosa to advance to 2nd the next batter, Kenny Jackson (Jr.) singled to right and Randell threw a bullet to Andrew Stumph at the plate to hose Hinojosa. The score stayed 1-1 in the middle of the third. Menawhile, Borski went back to shutting down the Aggie hitters and was working his pitch sequence between changeups and fastballs for the next 3 innings.
The 4th inning is when things starting getting exciting. Kyle Livingstone (Sr.) hit a shot at Aggie second baseman Jackson, the un-Olsen Field surface caused a hop and the result was E4 Aggies, man on 1st. A walk to Martinson put two on. Kyle Kubitza, the hottest Bobcat hitter as of late, put a shot in for a single that scored Livingstone, and put two on. Then came the controversy. After a Jeff McVaney (So.) ground-out to third that allowed first and third on a big hop, Andrew Stumph hit a ball to center field. Scott Arthur seemed to be under it, ready to try a throw in, and dropped it. The ball was ruled a catch and a drop on the transfer. Coach Harrington thought different and after Martinson scored, he ran out just as quickly for a word with 1st base umpire Frank Coffland. After discussing plans for "after the game eateries," Harrington was satisfied. It was a big call none-the-less as Stumph would have been on 2nd with Kubitza on 3rd. As it stood the situation was Kubitza on 3rd with two outs. A Laurn Randell single scored Kubitza and at the end of 4 innings it was Bobcats 4, Aggies 1.
The game went on until in the 7th the Aggies got a single from Arthur who scored on a Brandon Wood (Fr.) triple. At the end of 7, the score was score 4-2 Bobcats. In the bottom of the 8th, after solid relief pitching by the Bobcats and Covey Morrow (So.), one bad pitch to pinch-hitting sophomore Adam Smith tied the game. Smith homered deep to left with Joe Patterson (Sr.) on after a single. As a result, the tie game would take both teams into the 9th inning.
After quick 9th and 10th innings, the 11th saw the Aggies with their first lead of the game. A leadoff double by catcher Kevin Gonzalez (Jr.) gave Texas A&M a man in scoring position with nobody out. Fundamental ball from A&M yielded a sac bunt and then a sac fly RBI by Brandon Wood to the Aggies.
Kyle Kubitza said, after the game, going into his lead-off at bat in the bottom of the 11th he just wanted to get something started. A first pitch fastball inside was belted deep by Kubitza over the scoreboard for a quick equalizing run for Texas State. The near-delirious Texas State fans saw a 5-5 score with nobody out for the Bobcats. Jeff McVaney singled next to allow the Bobcats to show their fundamental side. Senior leader Jordan Kopycinski, who came in at catcher in the 7th, showed bunt on the first two pitches of his at-bat. The next pitch, as first baseman Patterson was charging, Kopycinski pulled his bunt back and chopped one that almost ended the game to second. The ball was snagged by the second baseman, keeping McVaney’s pinch runner, Colton Burnett (Fr.) from scoring.
Laurn Randell’s dad must have been switching sides by this point. After an intentional walk to Shaun Garcia to get to Randell, Mr. Randell must have been changing shirts.
The Aggies brought their center fielder in to play short second and with two outfielders in shallow, all Laurn Randell had to do was put it in the outfield. Randell needed one pitch, a fastball on the outside part of the plate, to end a thriller of a game. His single to right sent the 6th and final run home for Texas State. The sellout crowd exploded in celebration as the final result showed on the scoreboard: 6-5, Bobcats Win!
Texas State takes down Texas A&M for the first time since 2006 in College Station with the win, and the Bobcats took their first win of the season against a ranked opponent. The 'Cats also improve to 15-8 on the season while #22 Texas A&M falls to 17-8, and may possibly be ejected from the Top 25. With a four-game hot streak, the Bobcats head to Nacogdoches to face Southland Conference foe Stephen F. Austin. The games are set for Thursday through Saturday to allow the teams off on Easter Sunday. Game time for Thursday’s game is 3pm in Nacogdoches.
Will McGinnis, KTSW Sports Staff Writer
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