Tag Archives: Baseball

May 24, 2013 · 7:58 pm

College Baseball: Tournament update

It doesn’t get much clearer for Texas State.

If the Bobcats are to make the Western Athletic Conference Tournament Championship Game, they’ll need New Mexico State to beat Dallas Baptist tomorrow afternoon and then Texas State must beat UT Arlington. Should one of those conditions not be met — specifically a loss by the Aggies — the Bobcats’ season is done.

Texas State put itself in this situation Friday after a 7-5 loss to Dallas Baptist. Senior third baseman Nick Smelser belted a three-run home run in the game, but it wasn’t enough.

Later in the afternoon, New Mexico State knocked off UTA and left each team in Pool B with a 1-1 record.

Want to know the rest of the scenarios in Pool B? Here you go.

  • For Texas State to reach title game: NMSU must beat DBU; Texas State must beat UTA.
  • For UTA to reach title game: DBU must beat NMSU; UTA must beat Texas State.
  • For NMSU to reach title game: NMSU must beat DBU; UTA must beat Texas State.
  • For DBU to reach title game: DBU must beat NMSU, Texas State must beat UTA.

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April 24, 2013 · 2:59 am

College Baseball: Bobcats like big crowds

Fans packed Bobcat Ballpark to watch Tuesday's game (Photo by Tyler Mayforth).

Fans packed Bobcat Ballpark to watch Tuesday’s game between Texas State and Texas A&M (Photo by Tyler Mayforth).

When it was announced that Tuesday’s game between Texas State and Texas A&M was sold out, Ty Harrington’s team had to like its chances. Something about big crowds at home often pushes the Bobcats to victory.

“Our kids were really excited to come back (after batting practice) and see a nice crowd,” Harrington said after his team’s 4-1 win. “It probably added an extra step, some giddy-up and I was proud for them.”

With its win against the Aggies, Texas State improved to 4-1 in games played in front of the five best crowds in Bobcat Ballpark history.

Rank – Opponent – Attendance – Date – Result
1st – Texas A&M – 2,603 – March 30, 2010 – Won, 6-5
2nd – Texas – 2,593 – March 3, 2009 – Lost, 6-5
3rd – Texas A&M – 2,512 – April 23, 2013 – Won, 4-1
4th – Nebraska – 2,386 – Feb. 18, 2011 – Won, 7-2
5th – Notre Dame – 2,181 – March 3, 2012 – Won, 6-0

Texas State has nine of its 15 remaining games at home.

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April 13, 2013 · 1:50 am

College Baseball: Texas State snaps five-game losing streak

Texas State sent two pitchers to the mound Friday night who had something to prove.

Sophomore starter Taylor Black wanted to bounce back from an ugly start seven days earlier against Sacramento State. Junior reliever Hunter Lemke had to show he still had a solid grasp on his role as closer.

Black and Lemke were the only two pitchers to throw against Louisiana Tech — and for good reason. They combined to shut out the Bulldogs and senior catcher Andrew Stumph knocked in the lone run of a 1-0 win at Bobcat Ballpark.

Texas State snapped a five-game losing streak and improved to 6-4 in the Western Athletic Conference.

“This feels good,” Bobcat head coach Ty Harrington said. “No doubt about it.”

Black, who battled through some control problems (five walks), set the early tone for Texas State. Whenever the Bobcats needed Black to locate a big pitch, he did. Black escaped a jam in the second when he struck out Austin Hedges with a man on third and then induced a grounder by Ryan Gebhardt in the seventh that third baseman Colby Targun snared and fired to first for the third out of the inning.

“There was a stretch from the fourth to the sixth where Black was really good,” Harrington said. “That’s why he stuck with him.”

Lemke relieved Black with two outs in the eighth and after a walk, ended the inning with a strikeout. Then Lemke allowed a lead-off single in the ninth, but recorded three quick outs to pick up his fifth save.

“He really showed how gritty he could be,” Harrington said of Lemke.

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March 29, 2013 · 8:06 pm

College Baseball: Big day for the Bobcats

Good Friday turned out to be exactly that for Texas State, as well as a famous alumnus playing Major League Baseball.

For starters, the Bobcats clinched their second consecutive Western Athletic Conference series win thanks to a 7-5 victory over Seattle University. On Thursday, Texas State beat the Redhawks, 4-2.

After falling behind early, the Bobcats exploded for five runs in the fourth inning. It was sophomore designated hitter Colby Targun who paced Texas State for the second consecutive game, as he belted a two-run home run. It was Targun’s second round-tripper in as many days.

Notwithstanding Lucas Humpal’s solid outing out of the bullpen, the Bobcats used the same duo as they did Thursday night (Donnie Hart and Hunter Lemke) to the same result. Hart and Lemke worked their way out of several jams and combined to hold the Redhawks scoreless over 2.2 innings.

And that alumnus? Well, he got paid.

Former Texas State slugger Paul Goldschmidt agreed to a five-year, $32 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Goldschmidt hit .286 with 20 home runs and knocked in 82 runs last year.

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March 6, 2013 · 2:03 am

College Baseball: Bobcat blank UTSA

Is Texas State finally back to its old ways? It’s certainly possible to draw that conclusion after the Bobcats’ last three games, all of which were wins.

Texas State put a stamp on its current three-game winning streak Tuesday night when it blanked UTSA, 6-0, in a rare non-conference game against a conference opponent. Even though the Roadrunners came in as the Western Athletic Conference’s top team, the Bobcats used solid pitching and timely hitting to knock them off.

Over the last three games, Texas State scored 30 combined runs and drilled eight extra-base hits. It was a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double by sophomore first baseman Ben McElroy that broke the Bobcats’ game with UTSA wide open, giving the hosts a 5-0 lead in the sixth inning.

“To be able to come in and make that kind of impact, after sitting on the bench a while and having to watch, feels good,” said McElroy, who missed the first eight games of the season with a quadriceps injury.

Another player looking to continue a rehab of sorts was that of junior closer Hunter Lemke. While Lemke wasn’t injured, his first few appearances of the season didn’t prove he belonged in that role. Lemke allowed three runs in 3.2 innings pitched and walked three batters.

Well, Lemke turned it around in two of his last three appearances. Lemke tossed a scoreless inning last Friday against Northern Kentucky and four days later, sat the Roadrunners down in order.

“I’m just filling the strike zone up more and letting them get themselves out,” Lemke said. “I’m playing with my defense behind me with no worries.”

Momentum is key for Texas State as it heads to Corvallis, Ore. for a three-game weekend set with No. 4 Oregon State.

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February 23, 2013 · 11:05 pm

College Baseball: Up and down

Remember when Texas State had a fearsome offense? A few years ago, the Bobcats churned out hits and runs at a torrid pace.

That was then. This is now.

Texas State has struggled mightily so far this season to push runs across the plate. It looked as if the Bobcats broke through with six runs on 10 hits in a series-opening win Friday night over Houston. Then in the second game of the three-game set, Texas State mustered only one hit against the Cougars and fell 1-0. Houston pitcher Austin Pruitt absolutely dominated the Bobcats as he struck out 10 and rarely allowed them to make solid contact.

“Yesterday, we were a different offensive team and that has a lot to do with him (Pruitt),” Texas State head coach Ty Harrington said. “We just have to continue to grow.

“As good as his stuff was, we have to do a better job of creating some offense. We know that we’re not going to sit in there and swing away: we don’t have that kind of offense now. We have to be able to execute.”

One constant for the Bobcats, however, has been the performances of junior pitcher Kyle Finnegan and sophomore pitcher Taylor Black. Finnegan, who pitched Friday night, struck out nine in five innings to increase his season total to 20 punch-outs. Black — who nearly threw as well as Pruitt — struck out six and induced 12 ground outs, but allowed one hit (an RBI double to Cougar third baseman Jonathan Davis) and took his first loss of the season.

Texas State wraps up its three-game series with Houston tomorrow at noon.

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February 16, 2013 · 2:46 am

College Baseball: Finnegan hot, bats not

More than 15 scouts from Major League Baseball teams were in attendance Friday afternoon at Bobcat Ballpark when Texas State opened its 2013 season against Missouri State in the CenturyLink Bobcat Invitational. One of the main reasons they were there was Texas State junior pitcher Kyle Finnegan — and he put on a show.

Texas State junior pitcher Kyle Finnegan struck out 11 batters in Saturday's 3-2 loss (Photo by Gerald Castillo).

Texas State junior pitcher Kyle Finnegan struck out 11 batters in Saturday’s 3-2 loss (Daily Record Photo by Gerald Castillo).

Despite a few control problems, Finnegan dazzled in his six-inning stint during a 3-2 loss. Finnegan struck out 11, walked four and allowed two earned runs. At least seven of Finnegan’s strikeouts came by way of his fastball, which topped out at 97-miles per hour.

“We were kind of setting it up to where the fastball would be the out pitch,” Finnegan said. “They were calling outside fastballs and I just tried to hit my spots.”

As the season progresses, Finnegan should continue to move up teams’ draft boards. As a sophomore, Finnegan struck out 75 batters in 93.1 innings, including 12 in a 5-0 win over Notre Dame. Finnegan received an invite to the Cape Cod League last summer, where he sat down 46 hitters in 39.1 innings and posted a 6.41 ERA.

“It was a great experience,” Finnegan said. “Playing with the best in the country kind of forces you to become a better player. I was able to learn a lot and work on the change-up a lot. That’s all helped me.”

While Finnegan seemed ready for opening day, the Bobcats’ offense did not.

Texas State stranded 12 runners and only collected four hits. There were multiple opportunities for the Bobcats to win the game, including a spot in the bottom of the ninth where sophomore second baseman Colby Targun had men on second and third with two outs (after a double steal), but they failed to come through. Targun struck out on a 3-2 count with the bat on his shoulder.

“We gave ourselves chances … to score and didn’t take advantage,” Texas State head coach Ty Harrington said. “We have to do a better job offensively, no question.”

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February 5, 2013 · 6:20 pm

College Athletics: First and second

We interrupt your regularly-scheduled programming of Texas State men’s and women’s basketball to bring you this: The Bobcat baseball and softball team were recently projected to finish second and first, respectively, in the Western Athletic Conference.

Ty Harrington’s bunch earned one first-place vote and 65 points, putting it behind preseason-favorite Dallas Baptist. Texas State went 32-24 in 2012 and 19-14 in Southland Conference play. Harrington’s team opens play Feb. 15 in the CenturyLink Bobcat Invitational.

Ricci Woodard’s team edged San Jose State as the preseason darling. The Bobcats garnered five first-place votes and 43 points to the Spartans’ two and 43. Texas State opens the 2013 season Friday in Houston.

 

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December 31, 2012 · 8:00 am

Top stories of 2012

Well, 2012 is just about done. It’s time to look back at the year in Bobcat athletics with five of the biggest stories. You can click on the links to read the corresponding articles from the San Marcos Daily Record.

1. Texas State knocks off Houston

The Bobcats became the first underdog of more than 34 points to win a game by double digits.

2. Texas State joins the FBS, WAC

A 12-year wait ended as the Bobcats officially became members of the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Western Athletic Conference.

3. Texas State hosts Texas Tech in home opener

More than 30,000 fans watched the Bobcats and Red Raiders tangle in Bobcat Stadium. Here is our game story from the 58-10 loss.

4. Near record for Texas State’s pitchers

The Bobcats didn’t allow a run in 57 2/3 consecutive innings, falling just short of an NCAA record.

5. Hall’s no-hitter in the SLC Tournament

When the Bobcats needed senior pitcher Chandler Hall to step up the most, she did. Hall no-hit Sam Houston State for the title.

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August 16, 2012 · 7:00 am

MLB: Goldschmidt Tracker (Part XXV)

Paul Goldschmidt is in his second season with the Arizona Diamondbacks (Daily Record Photo).

When Paul Goldschmidt, a former slugger for the Texas State Bobcats, gets a hold of a pitch, there’s no doubt it will be a home run. Few people possess the raw power that Goldschmidt does and any fastball in his wheelhouse is going to travel a long way.

Goldschmidt took Chris Carpenter, of the St. Louis Cardinals, deep tonight at the new Busch Stadium. His 17th home run of the season soared 456 feet into the night and gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning.

For the season, Goldschmidt is now batting .295 with 17 home runs and 62 runs batted in.

Note: Be prepared for a chance in format of these Goldschmidt Trackers.

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