SAN MARCOS, Texas _ The Texas State offense was more than the
University of Central Arkansas pitching staff could handle again on
Sunday, taking an 11-5 victory and completing the Southland Conference
sweep at Bobcat Field.
The Bobcats (232-14, 13-5) had 13
hits off two UCA pitchers, including home runs by Thomas Field and
Lance Loftin. Texas State knocked out UCA starter Bobby Pritchett in
the second inning, scoring seven runs in the first two frames.
The
Bears (17-22, 6-12), coming off a sweep of their Nicholls State series
last weekend, were outscored 40-18 in the three losses. UCA had 12 hits
on Sunday but turned those into just five runs. Junior second baseman
Josh Huffman had a season-high three hits in five at-bats, scoring once
and driving in a run. Senior left fielder Kevin Rawls went 2 for 5 with
a run and a RBI.
After falling behind 7-0, the Bears rallied
with four runs in the third inning on five hits and a TSU error. Payton
Seelinger and Rawls had consecutive singles, with Seelinger going to
third. Rawls then stole second and Huffman knocked in Seelinger with a
single to left field.
Senior catcher Chris Davis shot an RBI
single through the left side to bring in Rawls and designated hitter
Kent Taylor doubled down the left-field line to score Huffman. Chris
Houk's sacrifice fly plated the final run of the inning.
As
they did all weekend, the Bobcats came right back with three runs of
their own to make it 10-4. The Bears got one more run in the sixth
inning when Rawls' infield single scored Jonathan Yerby, who led off
the inning with a double.
Pritchett (3-5) got the loss while
TSU starter Zach Tritz improved to 7-1, allowing five runs and 10 hits
in 5.1 innings. The top four batters in the Bobcats' lineup combined
for 10 hits, led by leadoff batter Field who was 3 for 5 and scored
three times.
UCA hosts UAPB at 6 p.m. Tuesday in non-conference action.