Published: May 20, 2008 11:21 am            

’Cats confident entering tourney

Texas State opens against UT-Arlington

After UTSA’s Aaron Powell launched a three-run home run off Aaron Taylor on Saturday, Texas State was down a run. The Bobcats had two options — either fold going into the Southland Conference tournament or not let it break their backs.

Texas State wouldn’t go quietly as Aaron Fuller and Paul Goldschmidt each rippled run-scoring singles up the middle to take back the lead. The Bobcats went on to win 10-8 and clinched the third seed entering tomorrow’s SLC Conference Tournament in Huntsville.

In a crucial series against the Roadrunners, Texas State wouldn’t fade, taking two of the three games. Lance Loftin lead the Bobcat attack, going 6 for 8 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in the wins. Loftin was named SLC Hitter of the Week for his efforts.

When the SLC Conference Tournament opens tomorrow, Texas State will open play bright and early. The Bobcats have a 9 a.m. first pitch with Texas-Arlington.

Texas State and the Mavs played earlier this season at Bobcat Field, with the home team winning two of three. The Bobcats lost the first game 6-5 in 10 innings, but combined to score 23 runs in the next two wins.

In the third game, Texas State won 13-4 and crushed four home runs. Goldschmidt, Thomas Field, Ben Theriot and Elliott Babcock each hit one. The bullpen also held strong after Zack Tritz was pulled, going three innings and not allowing a run.

UTA swept its last series entering the SLC Conference Tournament, so it should prove a good opening-round test for the Bobcats. The tournament is a double-elimination format, with two brackets, taking place in Don Sanders Stadium at Sam Houston State.

If Texas State wins the first game, it would advance to play Thursday at 4 p.m. against the winner of Lamar and Southern Louisiana. If the Bobcats lose against the Mavs, they would once again play at 9 a.m., on Thursday, with another loss sending them home.

UTSA won the regular season title, finishing 22-8 in conference games, and were awarded the number-one seed. Lamar clinched the second seed with a come-from-behind win on Friday night.

Following Texas State will be the Bearkats, who are hosting the tournament. Northwestern State was awarded the fifth seed and will play Sam Houston State at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The Lions clinched the seventh seed as earlier stated and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi enter the tournament as the eighth and final slot.

Should the Bobcats win all of their primary games, they would play at 4 p.m. on Thursday, 4 p.m. on Friday and then either 10 a.m. or noon on Saturday.

Texas State is in a good place entering the tournament. The Bobcats hold the third seed and will play a familiar opponent. Even though the tournament is at a different stadium, Texas State did win two games against the Bearkats on the road.

The Bobcats’ offense is clicking once again, as it shook off a dismal performance on Friday to put up 10 runs again on Saturday. Loftin is swinging a hot bat and it’s only time until Goldschmidt finds his power stroke again.

The only question mark on the Texas State team is once again its bullpen. Which set of relief arms will show up at Bob Sanders Stadium?

Will the Bobcats’ bullpen pitch how it did in the first and second game against UTSA or nearly hand the opposition a win like it did on Saturday. One thing is for sure, the offense can bail them out, but for how many games?

It’s an easier road to lose two games in a double-elimination tournament, but with the fight Texas State showed on Saturday, look for it to parlay the win into success in the SLC tournament.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.