Southeastern Louisiana 9th Inning Rally Eliminates Texas State
HUNTSVILLE, Texas ?Southeastern Louisiana ended Texas State’s tournament hopes (9-8) with a four-run ninth inning rally advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament to face second seed Lamar at 4 p.m. today.
SLU designated hitter Brandon Street led the Lions today hitting a perfect four-for-four driving in five RBI tying the team game high in RBI held by Cass Hargis and Street.
Brandon Street entered today’s contest with two homeruns on the year, doubling his total with two more today including a game winning three run bomb to left field.
Texas State jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the top of the third with an unearned run in the second followed by a 2 RBI single to center field from Bobcat junior Lance Loftin.
SLU answered in the bottom of the third with three of their own tying the Bobcats 3-3. Brandon Street’s second plate appearance netted two RBI with his first homerun of the day to right field.
Texas State sophomore catcher Ben Theriot has led the offensive charge for the Bobcats tying the SLC Tournament record with 11 total RBI coming with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning scoring Paul Goldschmidt.
Theriot set the conference tournament record in game one against UT Arlington with seven RBI topping Northwestern State’s Will Pearce mark (6) set against Louisiana-Monroe in the 1996 tournament in Shreveport, La.
In the bottom of the ninth Texas State held a commanding 8-5 lead. The Lions began to chip away at Bobcat relief pitchers Josh Walter and Aaron Taylor as D’Arensbourg reached on a fielding error followed by a single by Cass Hargis giving SLU two on with no outs.
Texas State freshman left fielder Bret Atwood took a homerun away from SLU junior Ty Summerlin with a leaping grab above the left field wall only to watch Lions’ DH Brandon Street take a 1-0 pitch out for a three-run tying homerun.
With the bases empty Texas State coach Ty Harrington goes to the bullpen for reliever Aaron Taylor in an effort to move into extra innings. The Bobcats would never get that chance as SLU loaded the bases with singles by Josh Cryer, Brian McCants and an intentional walk to slugger Xavier Qualls.
SLU pinch hitter Andrew Hickman stepped into the batters box anticipating his first pitch and was struck in the leg giving the Lions its fourth RBI of the inning and eliminating Texas State from tournament contention.
SLU will face a 2-0 Cardinals team today at 4 p.m. in the tournament semifinals.