Published: May 10, 2008 08:22 pm            

Bobcats snap losing skid

LAKE CHARLES, La. — Texas State’s Mike Hart pitched six shutout innings backed by three stright innings with a home run to give the Bobcats an 8-2 win over McNeese State Friday night at Cowboy Diamond. The victory puts an end to the Bobcats’ five-game losing streak and improves the team’s record to 15-10 in Southland Conference play.

Wild pitching gave the Bobcats their first run after Tyler Davis hit Laurn Randell with one out in the first inning. Paul Goldschmidt moved Randell to the third with a single to left center and Lance Loftin was issued a walk to load the bases. Davis unraveled on the mound and a passed ball sent Randell home to give Texas State a 1-0 edge

Texas State upped its lead to 4-0 thanks to consecutive home run frames in the fifth an sixth innings. Goldschmidt slapped his 16th home run of the season to lead off the fifth inning, while Jason Martinson blasted a two-run shot to center field.

Loftin got into the long-ball action and blasted his own two-run homer in the top of the seventh, giving the Bobcats a commanding 6-0 lead.

The Cowboys tried for a rally and two base hits coupled with a Bobcat error nearly gave the Cowboys a chance with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. But Aaron Taylor took over on the mound for the Bobcats and retired what represented the game-tying run.

With a 6-2 lead, Texas State tacked on two more runs in the ninth to seal the victory. Aaron Fuller pinch hit for Martinson with Ben Theriot and Cody Gambill on base and singled up the middle to notch the final pair of RBIs the Bobcats.

Goldschmidt led the Bobcats at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs.

Hart tossed 110 pitches in his 7 2/3 innings on the mound and held the Cowboys to just five hits. Taylor was issued the save after shutting out the four batters he faced in his 1.1 innings.

Davis took the loss for McNeese, allowing six runs to score off seven hits in the outing.

The two teams were schedule to face off again on Saturday, as the three-game series comes to an end today at 1 p.m. at Cowboy Field.

        

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