May 3, 2008

Final Stats

LAKE CHARLES - Ragan Blake pitched a five-hit shutout in game one for a 2-0 win, but a late inning rally fell short in game two as Texas State (34-17, 24-5 SLC) fell 7-6 in game two to split a doubleheader at McNeese State (22-34, 15-13) on Saturday.

The Bobcats entered the weekend already having clinched the Southland Conference regular season title and the top seed in next week's SLC Tournament, but head coach Ricci Woodard hopes Texas State can rally from a game two loss.

"The big thing is to understand we're still playing for something and so is McNeese State" said Woodard. "Hopefully we'll learn from today and come out tomorrow and get after it for seven innings."

Game one started with the Bobcat offense hot as a pair of runs scored on three hits and a walk. Ryan Kos drew a one-out walk before moving to second on an Alex Newton single, and McKenzie Baack followed with another base hit to move Kos to third.

Newton was retired on the play for the second out of the inning, but Baack stole second on a play that allowed Kos to score the game's first run and give Texas State a 1-0 lead. Leah Boatright then delivered a double to plate Baack and make it 2-0 Bobcats.

The Cowgirls tried their best to answer, but Blake (19-10) kept McNeese State in check. In the bottom of the first a single and walk helped the Cowgirls move runners to the corners, but Blake got Megan Beard to fly out to end the inning.

The Cowgirls also brought the winning run to the plate with two on and nobody out in the seventh, but Blake struck out Jenny Clay and got Holly Long and Megan Beard to pop up to end the game.

Blake tallied seven strikeouts and earned her eighth shutout despite walking six and allowing five hits while Bethany Stefinsky (8-11) allowed a pair of earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four for the Cowgirls.

Texas State also got a run in the opening frame of game two when Jill Kloesel came home with the help of a pair of errors, but the lead quickly went away when McNeese State responded with two runs in the bottom of the first that also came home on an error.

In the fourth the Cowgirls struck again, extending their lead to 4-1 on an RBI single by Rachel King and Guidry's RBI on an error. An inning later the deficit grew to 7-1 when McNeese State sent all nine batters to the plate, scoring on a bases-loaded RBI single by Guidry before Whitney Corbello capped the inning with a two-run single. The Bobcat defense prevented any further damage, getting a force out at home before a groundout ended the inning.

Taylor Hall's RBI groundout in the sixth gave Texas State a run back to cut into McNeese State's lead and make it 7-2, but Allyce Rother lined out to short to strand Leah Boatright at second.

With one final chance in the seventh, the Bobcats began their rally attempt with walks to Tello and Kloesel before Lacey Duncan reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with one out. After a Newton sacrifice fly, Baack crushed her eighth home run of the season with a three-run shot to bring Texas State back within a run, but Boatright grounded out to end the game.

"When we make adjustments, we're a great ballclub," said Woodard. "We were down and came back with five runs in the final two innings, so we just need to take that into every at bat."

Elizabeth Dennis (3-2) took the loss after allowing four runs, one earned, in three innings. Michelle LaVoie (10-12) won for McNeese State despite allowing five earned runs on six hits and four walks in 6.2 innings.

The Bobcats and Cowgirls conclude their series and the 2008 regular season for both teams Sunday, May 4, at 1 p.m.