With a couple of key late hits the Bobcats defeated the Bears of Central Arkansas 7-3 to win game 2. After beating the Bears of Central Arkansas 14-2 in game one on Friday the 'Cats improved to 18-10 overall, and came into the game Saturday feeling very confident. The Bobcats put Michael Russo on the mound, who came into the game with a 3-0 record and a 3.74 era with 26 strikeouts. Russo got the game started with a big strikeout on Jordan Getchell. After, making quick work of the first 2 in the bears lineup Clay Washington took Russo deep down the line in right field to give the Bears an early 1-0 lead.
The bottom of the first inning of Saturday’s game did not quite get started like on Friday as the Cats went three up, three down. Laurn Randell found his way on base to open up the game, but was picked off by the UCA pitcher Dustin Ward on an attempted steal. Michael Russo finally got his composure as he held the Bears to a very dormant second inning. Dustin Ward was very strong in the second as well as he only allowed one Cat to reach base Kyle Kubitza.
The Bobcats in the third once again having problems with leaving men on base. Despite putting two runners on with only one out, theywere unable to bring them around. In the fourth, the Bears came out with authority as Ethan Harris hit a lead off single, Clay Washington came up big with a long double to right center to move Getchell to third, and Blake Roberts then brought home Getchell on the sac grounder. Then, Michael Pair came up with a long sac fly to score Washington from third.
The Bobcats showed some life in the fourth, but once again unable to do anything with runners on base. Kubitza drew a walk to reach base for the second time, but Jeff McVaney and Andrew Lacombe left him standing out there with nothing to do. Michael Russo once again workedvery quickly in the fifth sending the Bears down in order hoping to shock some life into the Bobcat bats.
The Bobcats showed that they were not completely lifeless in the fifth when Laurn Randell and Atwood got on base with two outs. However, the big hitting shortstop Jason Martinson was unable to get the job done when he struck out to end the inning. The sixth was very slow as both pitchers were still having good days. The Bobcats did get a man on base when Kubitza drew the walk, but once again another opportunity was lost for the Cats as they stranded him.
In the 7th, the Bobcats saw the return of the Tyler Sibley who got the inning started with a base hit. The Bobcats continued to stay hot when Andrew Stumph came through with an infield hit. Laurn Randell was plunked by Dustin Ward loading the bases for Bret Atwood who came through with a single to left to put the Cats finally on the board. Jason Martinson followed up Atwood with 2 rbi double down the line in left to bring the game to a tie. A sacrifice fly by Kyle Livingstone scoring Atwood gave the Cats their 1st lead of the game. The Bobcats scored 2 more times in the inning to give them a 6-3 lead. With the Bobcats gaining a lead in the seventh, Coach Ty Harrington turned the game over to his bullpen. Coach Harrington brought in Jeff McVaney to give Russo a little help, and that’s just what he did shutting down the Bears. Laurn Randell also added on to the 6-3 score with a solo shot homerun in the 8th.
In the 9th Garrett Carruth came in to close the door earning his 6th save and giving Michael Russo his 4th win of the season. The Bobcast improve to 11-3 in conference play, and still remain on top of the Southland Conference. They'll face Central Arkansas tomorrow at 1 pm, the game will be aired on Stretch Internet at txstatebobcats.com.
TJ Ladusky, KTSW Sports Staff Writer
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