Published: April 03, 2009 10:51 pm      

TXST Baseball: Bobcats win opener at UCA

Conway, Ark. — The Texas State Bobcats continued their winning ways in Southland Conference play Friday night, handing Central Arkansas a 5-2 loss in the opener of a three-game series.

The win improved the Bobcats' SLC record to 9-4, as the team is now 18-9 overall. Central Arkansas fell to 14-13 overall and 6-7 in conference play.

The win also allowed the Bobcats to remain in first place of the SLC West Division and tied for the best record in conference play with Southeastern Louisiana.

Texas State jumped on the Bears early with three runs in the top of the first inning, and that was all Bobcat starting pitcher Kane Holbrooks needed, as the senior limited UCA to one run over seven innings to improve his record to 6-0 on the season. Holbrooks allowed seven hits and seven strikeouts, and displayed very good control with no walks.

The Bobcat bullpen then continued its recent string of success, as Lance Loftin came in an allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts in an inning and two-thirds of work, and Michael Russo quelled a late UCA rally attempt by striking out Richey Irvin fror the last out of the ninth inning, giving him his fourth of the season.

Central Arkansas' Jeremy Cloud went the distance and suffered the loss, as his record fell to 3-3 on the season. Texas State scored five runs off eight hits and struck out six times.

The Bobcats scored the three first-inning runs with two outs. Paul Goldschmidt started the surge when he was hit by a pitch, as Keith Prestridge followed with a walk.

Bobcat senior Spenser Dennis' hot hitting continued when he delivered a single down the third-base line that allowed Goldschmidt to score from second.

Kyle Kubitza followed with a walk to load the bases and Kyle Livingstone doubled down the right-field line for two more Texas State runs.

UCA trimmed the lead to 3-1 with a run in the bottom of the second, but the Bobcats were able to post insurance runs in the fifth and seventh innings to hold on to the win.

Brett Atwood laced a RBI double to left field, scoring Tyler Sibley in the fifth, while Jason Martinson slapped out his second home run of the season with a towering solo shot over the left-center field fence in the seventh.

Texas State and UCA will meet again Saturday with a 2 p.m. game, as the series concludes with a 1 p.m. game Sunday.

-- Randy Stevens