Bobcats sweep ULM to capture SBC Title
For the first time since 2018, the Sun Belt regular season title is coming back home to San Marcos.
Facing Louisiana Monroe in a double-header on Saturday, the Bobcats defeated the Warhawks 7-4 in the first game before winning the second game 6-2 to complete the threegame sweep and clinch the conference title.
The victory marked the Bobcats first outright Sun Belt regular season title and the program’s first outright conference title since 2012.
Going into Saturday’s game following their 5-3 win on Thursday, Texas State needed just one win against the Warhawks to clinch a share of the title and two wins to win the conference title outright.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Bobcats pounced all over the Warhawks. Following a single from freshman shortstop Erin Peterson in the top of the first inning, junior first baseman Aiyana Coleman smashed a two-run home run over the wall in left field to put the Bobcats up 2-0.
The home-run was a significant one of Coleman, who broke the Texas State single season record for most home runs in a single season set by Ariel Ortiz in 2017.
In the top of the third inning, Coleman struck again. After a leadoff walk from junior outfielder Keely Williams, Coleman connected with another two-run home run, putting the Bobcats up 4-0.
Coleman’s second home run of the game broke another Texas State record for most RBIs in a single season set by Elizabeth Wissel in 2001.
Later in the top of the third, the Bobcats scored again. Facing two outs with runners on first and second, freshman outfielder Bailee Slack hit a Little League home run off the ULM error, clearing the bases and extending the Bobcat lead to 7-0.
The Warhawks scored four unanswered runs in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings but couldn’t complete the comeback as Texas State won the first game of the doubleheader 7-4 to clinch the series against ULM.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Bobcats once again struck first in their first at-bat.
Junior catcher Megan Kelnar put the Bobcats on the board with an RBI single, putting Texas State up 1-0.
Kelnar added another run for the Bobcats in the top of the third, forcing a bases loaded walk and extending the lead to 2-0.
The top of the sixth inning saw the Bobcats score another run when junior second baseman Sidney Harvey hit into the fielder’s choice, allowing junior designated player Karmyn Bass to score and put the Bobcats up 3-0.
ULM answered back in the bottom of the sixth inning, hitting a two-run home run and cutting the Bobcat lead down to 3-2.
However, Texas State added much needed insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
Senior outfielder Ciara Trahan hit a two-run RBI triple in right field to make the score 5-2 before a groundout allowed Trahan to score from third, extending the lead to 6-2.
Pitcher Emma Strood closed out the game for the Bobcats, sitting the Warhawks in order to seal the win, the sweep and the conference title.
The Bobcats enter the conference tournament as the No. 1 seed and will face the winner of James Madison-Troy on Thursday. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
