May 5th, 2008
The 'Cats Baseball Team Gets Swept By The 'Jacks

NACOGDOCHES – The weekend series against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (22-25,9-14) did not go well for the Texas State (24-22, 14-10) baseball team. They were swept by the `Jacks at Jaycees Field. The last time Texas State was swept by a conference opponent was in 2001 when Louisiana-Monroe took three away from the `Cats. Texas State still holds a 30-17 advantage over SFA, including an 8-7 ten-inning season opening victory. The `Cats had won seven of the past nine meetings with the Lumberjacks prior to this series.SFA put up one run each in the 1st and 2nd innings to take a 2-0 lead. After being no-hit for the first 3 innings, the Bobcats got things going in the top of the 4th when Adam Witek’s single brought in Paul Goldschmidt to make the score 2-1. The ‘Cats starting pitcher only allowed 2 more hits during the 3rd – 6th innings and the offense got him the lead in the top of the 7th. Aaron Fuller tied the game with a first pitch homer to right field. Elliott Babcock singled 3 batters later and then scored on a wild pitch to give the Bobcats the lead 3-2. A 3-run home run by the Lumberjacks in the bottom of the 7th sent pitcher Mike Hart to the showers. Hart went 7 innings, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits. The Bobcats managed 2 hits but did not score in the top of the 8th to leave the score at 5-3 SFA. The Lumberjacks added another run in the bottom of the 8th while stranding 3 to make the score 6-3 entering the top of the 9th. Texas State managed a 2 out single but that was it and the `Jacks took the victory. Hart took the loss and is now 4-3 on the season. Babock (2 for 4, 1 run), Witek (3 for 3, 1 RBI) and Fuller (2 for 4, 1 run, 1 RBI) led the team at the plate.

Score by Innings                               R H E

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Texas State………      000 100 200 – 3 10 0

Stephen F. Austin… 110 000 31X –  6 11 0

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Stephen F. Austin started out fast again in game two, scoring 3 in the 2nd inning, 2 in the 4th and 3 in the 5th to take a 8-0 lead. Texas State was held to only 1 hit during those first 5 innings. They woke in the 6th and put up 2 runs on 4 hits. Adam Witek singled to bring in Thomas Field who had tripled in his at bat to bring in the first run. Lance Loftin hit a single two batters later to bring in Witek. After SFA added another run in the bottom of the 6th, Jonathan Farrow homered to center field in the top of the 7th to make the game a 6 run game again, 9-3. Texas State made it a 1 point game in the 8th after they scored 5 runs on only 3 hits. Paul Goldschmidt scored the first run of the inning on a single by Elliott Babcock with 2 outs in the inning. Laurn Randall brought in 2 more runs two batter later with a single that scored Loftin and Babcock. Two more batters later, Aaron Fuller drew a bases loaded walk to bring in Ben Theriot. The final run of the inning was scored by Randell who scored on a wild pitch. The game did not stay close for long though when SFA put up 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th to make the score 13-8. Texas State was able to only add one more run in the top of the 9th when Babcock hit into a fielders choice to score Witek. The `Jacks 13-9 victory gave them the first 2 victories of the series. SFA hit 5 home runs in the game. Pitcher Steven Siers took the loss and is now 4-2 for the season. The ‘Cats were led offensively by Witek (2 for 5, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Goldschmidt (2 for 4, 1 run), Loftin (2 for 4, 1 run, 1 RBI), Babcock (2 for 5, 1 run, 2 RBI’s), Randell (1 for 4, 1 run, 2 RBI’s) and Farrow (1 for 3, 1 run, 1 RBI).

Score by Innings                                  R H E

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Texas State………      000 002 151 – 9 11 1

Stephen F. Austin… 030 231 04X – 13 14 0

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Texas State took the first lead of the series when Adam Witek homered to left field in the 1st inning of game 3 to take a 1-0 lead. The Bobcats loaded the bases with 2 outs but the last batter grounded out to end the inning. The Lumberjacks tied the game with a run in the bottom of the 1st, took the lead with a run in the 4th and then padded the lead with a run in the 5th. The Bobcats only managed 2 hits in innings two through six. In the top of the 7th, Texas State managed a run to make the game a 1 run game even though they did not get a hit. Laurn Randall was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, advanced to 2nd on a walk to Ben Theirot, advanced to 3rd on a fielders choice and then scored on a wild pitch. The Bobcats stranded 2 runners in the 8th and went down in order in the 9th and the game ended with another Lumberjack victory. Zach Tritz pitched a complete game but took the loss and is now 8-2 on the season. The Bobcats were led at the plate by Witek (1 for 5, 1 run, 1 RBI) and Lance Loftin (2 for 4).

Score by Innings                                 R H E

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Texas State………      100 000 100 – 2 5 1

Stephen F. Austin… 100 110 00X – 3 8 0

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The `Cats will stay on the road to take on the Rice Owls on Tuesday.

By MICHAEL WRIGHT
Sports Reporter