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Bobcats Slug Past SLU 15-0, 10-1 in Doubleheader
March 8, 2008
HAMMOND, La. - Kelsey Cammarata hit a pinch-hit grand slam to cap a 12-run sixth inning in the first game of a doubleheader as the Texas State offense exploded for 25 runs on the day against Southeastern Louisiana pitching, winning 15-0 in game one and 10-1 in game two. The wins keep the Bobcats (14-9, 8-0 SLC) atop the Southland Conference standings while also scoring the most runs in a single game since a 15-1 win over the College of Charleston in 2006. Southeastern Louisiana dropped to 15-6 overall and 5-3 in league play. McKenzie Baack opened the day's scoring with an RBI single in the second inning of game one. Ali McCormack made it 2-0 in the fourth inning when she plated Alex Newton, who reached on a double. In the fifth, Kristina Tello doubled home another run to make it 3-0, setting the stage for Texas State's sixth-inning fireworks. Newton led off the inning with a single and scored on a Leah Boatright single. Baack then blasted a two-run homer off Lions starter Rachel Ray that extended the lead to 6-0. Jessica Sander relieved Ray but immediately ran into trouble, walking three straight batters. Another pitching change brought in Aimee Arceneaux, who walked Tello before giving up an RBI single to Jenna Emery to plate two more runs. Newton, batting for the second time in the inning, grounded out with the bases loaded for another run before McCormack drove in two more with a single. Boatright and Baack followed with back-to-back singles, and Cammarata connected for the pinch-hit grand slam that ended an inning that featured 13.
The run support proved more than enough for Ragan Blake, who threw a two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts in six innings of work. Ray took the loss for SLU, allowing five earned runs in 5.1 innings. The Lions came back in game two, taking a 1-0 lead in the second with a Brooke Lockhart single. Newton tied the game in the third with a single that scored Tello and advanced all the way to third on a throwing error. The error proved costly as McCormack hit a sacrifice fly in the next at bat, giving Texas State a 2-1 lead. The Bobcats exploded for five more runs in the sixth with another hit parade, as Taylor Hall and Cammarata added RBI singles before Ryan Kos hit a sac fly and Newton hit an RBI double. Texas State's final run of the inning came on a passed ball that scored Tello and made it 7-1 Bobcats. Tello then provided more offense in the seventh, driving in a run on a single. Back-to-back wild pitches with the bases loaded by Lions pitcher Bailey Zievert scored two more runs to end the Bobcats' scoring outburst. Katie Garnett closed out the win by retiring the side in order, pitching a complete game while allowing one run on six hits. Jenna Yoder took the loss in game two, giving up five earned runs in 5.1 innings on 10 hits. The three-game series between the teams will conclude Sunday at noon. |
