April 14th, 2010
Bobcats lose another heartbreaker at Texas

STAFF REPORT

The Texas State baseball team lost another late lead in Austin Tuesday night, thereby losing another one-run game to the nationally ranked Texas Longhorns.

The Longhorns prevailed, 6-5, scoring three runs in the eighth inning, all after two were out. Kevin Lusson’s pop fly to right field tipped off the glove of Texas State right fielder Laurn Randell, allowing Tant Shepherd to score from second base. Paul Montalbano then tripled to left-center field, driving in Kevin Keyes with the tying run and Lusson with the lead run.

Randell singled for the Bobcats with two out and no one on in the top of the ninth, but Bret Atwood hit into a fielder’s choice to end the game.

The Bobcats lost in similar fashion at Texas on March 9, by a 4-3 score. In that game, too, the Longhorns were down two runs going to the bottom of the eighth, then scored three times to win the game. Thus, the Bobcats are a frustrating 0-2 in their games at Texas this season.

Texas State fell to 20-11 for the season, while the fourth-ranked Longhorns are 27-7.

Kyle Livingstone and Jeff McVaney both were three-for-four for the Bobcats Tuesday night, while Andrew Stumph was one-for-four with three RBI.

Stumph’s three-run homer in the second inning against Longhorns starting pitcher Sam Stafford staked the Bobcats to a 4-0 lead.

Texas State starting pitcher Brian Borski pitched six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits while striking out five and walking one. Carson Smith followed with an inning of shutout relief. However, Texas State relievers Fielding Pittman, Jeff McVaney and Garret Carruth each allowed one run and picked up one out in the fateful eighth inning.

The Bobcats return to Southland Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Southeastern Louisiana. The Bobcats lead the conference with a 12-3 league record.