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Game 1: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3, UTSA 2.
- The Buckner family name is known famously for one play, but TAMU-CC 3B Bobby Buckner did a good job trying to change the family legacy. With 2 outs and a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth, Buckner placed an 0-2 offering on top of the right-center wall for the game-winner. The shot knocked out the Roadrunners, and kept the Islanders alive to play against Stephen F. Austin at 4 PM.
- UTSA’s season is over, but they have a good core of players for next season. Ryan Hutson’s career is over, but Ryan Dalton, Riley Good, Daniel Rockett, and possibly Casey Selsor will be back for Coach Sherman Corbett.
Game 2: Texas State 13, Sam Houston State 2 (7 INNINGS)
- Texas State dominated. Tyler Sibley led off with a home run, and the Bobcats added four run frames over the next two innings. Sibley ended with three hits and four RBI, while oft-used infielder Clint Vest added three RBI.
- Bobcat 1B Casey Kalenkosky added the final blow on the day with a two-run home run in the seventh. Kalenkosky’s homer was his 20th of the year, making him the sixth player this season to hit the 20-homer plateau. Kalenksoky’s shot also made him the first Bobcat to hit 20 home runs in a single year.
- Sam Houston State’s exit from the tournament marks the end of Head Coach Mark Johnson’s career. Johnson started as the skipper at Texas A&M before moving down the road to Sam Houston.
Game 3: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 11, Stephen F. Austin 5
- SFA starting pitcher Jared West came out on fire. After being told he isn’t a strikeout pitcher before the game, West struck out seven Islanders in the first three innings, including a stretch of five straight that were set down looking.
- Game One hero Bobby Buckner did not repeat his heroics in this game. In his first at bat, Buckner disagreed with the home plate umpire’s strike three call, turned to the umpire, and dropped a very loud bomb. Unfortunately, this bomb wasn’t a game winner in the ninth, and ended Bobby’s day immediately.
- The Islanders didn’t let the early strike outs get them down, taking a 3-2 lead after a few good hits from 1B Trey Hernandez, the Lumberjacks took advantage of some miscues in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead.
- SFA 1B Darren Crabtree had a role in the first four runs for the ‘Jacks. Crabtree scored the second run, and brought in the other three with RBI singles.
- The Lumberjacks were cruising through the first eight innings today. Colton Eubanks retired 9 straight batters before giving way to closer Jason West for the save. That’s when it all went downhill…
- PH Caleb Marx started it off with a solo HR, followed by a Jeramie Marek single and Matt Holland RBI double. From there, the Islanders added a few runs before C Jumpy Garcia launched a three run homer to give Corpus a 10-5 lead after trailing by two coming into the inning. Marx added a double, and scored the final run on Marek’s RBI single.
- Coming into tonight, SFA had allowed only 13 ninth inning runs, but saw the Islanders put up an eight spot on them to win the game.
- Both Corpus wins tonight came in the ninth inning.
Game 4: Texas State 14, Nicholls 2
- I didn’t see the Texas State loss to Nicholls on Wednesday, but after seeing the Bobcats put up 26 runs in 16 innings tonight, I find it hard to believe they were shutout, and gave up five runs. The Bobcats dominated this game and never let up.
- Texas State SP Travis Ballew reached career highs in innings and strikeouts tonight. Ballew hadn’t pitched to the fifth inning in his six previous starts this year, but also had a tough year facing very good competition in the midweek. Ballew is setting himself up to be a weekend starter for the ‘Cats next season.
- Bobcats had 26 hits in the night game. Each batter collected at least one hit, while RF Cory Falvey had a career-high five hits in six at bats, while four other hitters raked out three hits a piece.
