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Seniors Finish Sweep of SHSU with 9-1 Win
April 27, 2008 SAN MARCOS - Texas State (33-16, 23-4 SLC) scored six runs in the third inning as eight straight batters reached to help pave the way for a 9-1, five-inning win over Sam Houston State (29-28, 14-13 SLC) in the Bobcats' final home game of the 2008 regular season. Ragan Blake (18-10) earned the win and was also honored after the game as one of four seniors on the 2008 squad, joining Kelsey Cammarata, Jill Kloesel and Ashton Peters. The Bobcats jumped on the scoreboard early with three runs in the first inning, all of which came with two outs. Alex Newton reached on a hard grounder deep in the hole at shortstop that kicked away from Tanya Hooser and allowed Newton to end up at second. The ball continued to bounce Texas State's way in the next at bat, as McKenzie Baack's grounder hit first base and bounced away from the Bearkat infielders for an RBI single. Leah Boatright followed with a single up the middle, and both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Jenna Emery capped the inning by doubling to right field for a pair of RBIs. In the third the Bobcats broke the game open when the first seven batters of the inning all reached base. Kloesel led off with a bunt single before Newton doubled down the left field line. Baack came up again with a grounder, and Kloesel beat the throw home to make it 4-0. After a Boatright squeeze play brought home another run and Emery singled to load the bases, Peters lined a double into the gap in left center for two more runs that extended the lead to 6-0. Cammarata drove in the fifth run of the inning in the next at bat with an RBI single to left, and Peters scored the final run on a passed ball.
Sam Houston State tried to answer in the top of the fourth when an error and walk put the two leadoff batters on base. Morgan Mikulin came up with an RBI opportunity but instead hit a grounder to Boatright at first. Boatright threw to Ryan Kos covering first base in time to retire Mikulin, but Kos and Mikulin collided at first and both ended up on the ground. The Bearkats' Holly Hatcher, who was originally at second, saw the collision and tried to score on the play, but Kos fired home to Peters just in time to beat Hatcher's slide. The double play kept the score 9-0 before a flyout ended the inning to preserve the lead. The Bearkats also threatened in the fifth, needing two runs to avoid being run-ruled. Back-to-back singles started the inning before a groundout advanced both runners into scoring position with one out in the inning. Amanda Lindsey plated one with a groundout, but Blake got Amy Brown to pop up to second for the game's final out. Peters, Emery and Baack each finished with two RBIs to lead Texas State on offense, and all three seniors in the batting order recorded a hit. Kloesel finished 1-for-3 with a run while Peters was 1-for-2 with a run and two RBIs and Cammarata went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Boatright and Newton also tallied two hits apiece while each scoring twice. Blake struck out just one batter but allowed only three hits and a walk in five innings. Brandi Crnkovic (15-16) took the loss for Sam Houston State after giving up all nine runs on 10 hits in two innings. Texas State will close out its 2008 regular season with a three game series at McNeese State May 3-4 before hosting the 2008 Southland Conference Tournament May 8-10. |
