FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES
SAN MARCOS – Ben Theriot blasted a solo home run to open the game for the Texas State Bobcats, aiding an 11-7 victory over Texas-Pan American Tuesday night at Bobcat Field. The team improves to 19-14 with the win and will look to sweep the series tomorrow at 6 p.m.
Brian Vest doubled to left center to initiate the game and a sacrifice fly coupled with a base hit up the middle gave the Broncs an early run on the board. But Theriot erased the 1-0 mark with a two-out home run in the bottom of the first to tie the game.
After a scoreless third inning from both clubs, the Broncs broke open the tie with a pair of two-run innings. Back-to-back singles started the rally for UTPA in the fourth and a sacrifice bunt shifted the runners to scoring position. With two outs, Bonham Hough took advantage of a Bobcat infield error, scoring and handing UTPA the lead. Roly Gonzales doubled on the next play to plate the 3-1 run for the Broncs.
The Bronc bats never slowed in the fifth frame, notching four more hits to raise the score 5-1.
But Texas State corralled the foe in its chance at the plate knocking five-straight singles to trim the lead by two in the bottom of the fifth. Paul Goldschmidt drew a walk with the bases loaded to put the ‘Cats one away and a deep sacrifice fly from Lance Loftin sent Thomas Field home to tie the game at five apiece. Laurn Randell erased the short-lived bond with a base hit through the right side, giving Elliott Babcock and Goldschmidt a chance to score and wrap up the inning, 7-5.
A stellar defensive inning shut down the Broncs in the top of the sixth, while the ‘Cats added three more runs to their mark, including Goldschmidt’s single to center field, Texas State’s ninth batter to record a hit in the contest.
Pan-American managed to score two more runs split between the eighth and ninth frame, including a lead-off homer from Andrew Perez in the eighth.
Field was the final score for Texas State after posting a base hit to open the eighth inning. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third base and was eventually sent home on a Goldschmidt drive up the middle.
Adam Witek went 3-for-4, scored two runs and grabbed one RBI to head Texas State at the plate. Field also notched three hits to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Theriot and Goldschmidt managed two hits with the latter grabbing three RBI.
Zach Boles (1-3) was credited with his first-career win, throwing five solid innings and striking out three at the plate.
