FROM PRESS RELEASE
SAN MARCOS – Four home runs, including a grand slam in the fifth inning coupled with a season-tying hit tally and a season-best stolen base mark highlighted the Texas State Bobcats first Southland Conference sweep of the season in the 13-4 takeover against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Zach Tritz held out for seven complete innings to notch his sixth straight win and maintain his perfect record on the mound. The `Cats now boast a 9-3 league record and a 17-10 overall mark after the success at Bobcat Field Sunday afternoon.
The two squads traded run across the first frame for the opening marks, but A&M-Corpus Christi slapped another tally on the board in the top of the second and held Texas State in their half to shift ahead in the ranks. Texas State’s defense returned the gesture and halted the Islanders scoring throughout the next five innings.
With a solid defensive backing, State’s offense went to work with Paul Goldschmidt leading off the fourth frame with base hit to centerfield. Ben Theriot followed with a knock straight to the second baseman for a quick double play, but Trey Hernandez kept the `Cats alive by handing Spenser Dennis a free ride to first base on balls. The oversight readied the stage for Lance Loftin and on his first attempt with the bat launched the pitch over the centerfield wall to erase the one-man deficit and give the `Cats a 3-2 lead.
On just two hits and help from the Islanders mound, Texas State brought in four runs in the following inning to lengthen the spread. Field led off with a base hit up the middle and Adam Witek and Theriot took their respective places on base thanks to walks. A full diamond signaled a pitching change and the foe brought in Matt Hudec. Dennis jumped on the hurler’s first pitch and sent it far over the left field wall, clearing the bases and giving the Islanders a tough margin to catch.
Trailing 7-2, the Islanders made a go for it and fought back with a homer of their own on Hernandez’ two-man shot in the top of the eighth. The hit plated Stephen Flora who reached on a lead-off single to left field. Zach Boles was brought in to relieve Tritz on the mound and the hurler snagged two outs on his own before the inning was retired to hold off the comeback.
Texas State’s bats never silenced and in the bottom of the eighth, Elliott Babcock led off the final rally with a solo homerun to left field. Six hits and five runs later the `Cats walked away with its third-straight victory over the Islanders. The Bobcats last sweep over an SLC opponent came in March 2007 against Texas-Arlington at Clay Gould Ballpark.
Field and Dennis both notched three hits and scored two runs apiece to help out at the plate, with Dennis grabbing a game-high five RBI. Goldschmidt went 4-for-5 in the afternoon showcase that included a two-run homer in the eighth frame. The `Cats doubled the Islanders hitting total, 18-9.
Chase Williams led TAMU-CC at the plate, going 3-for-5 and scoring one run. Hernandez took the loss for the Islanders, his sixth unsuccessful outing this season.
The Bobcats will return to the field Tuesday night to commence a grueling five-game week. Texas State will open with a 6:05p.m. first pitch at Dell Diamond against the Texas Longhorns before hosting the Houston Cougars Wednesday night at Bobcat Field. The team will then jump back into Southland Conference action, taking on the Southeastern Louisiana Lions in Hammond, La. to close out the weekend.
Lamar 7 Nicholls State 2
Texas Arlington 6 Sam Houston State 5
