Bobcats take rubber match against Southeastern Louisiana

TXST SOFTBALL

Texas State hosts final home tournament this weekend

The Bobcats took a critical nonconference series, beating the Southeastern Louisiana Lions 4-1 in the rubber match on Saturday.

Texas State improves to 12-7 overall.

“One of the things we talked about was how big the series was, and we didn’t talk about it till after the series was over,” Head Coach Ricci Woodard said. “But to get beat 4-0, then win 1-0, and come back to win 41, it shows the resiliency and the maturity of this team. So super proud of them.”

Texas State and Southeastern Louisiana played in a double-header on Friday with the Lions taking the first game 4-0 and the Bobcats taking the second game 1-0 with senior baseman Aiyana Coleman scoring the only run on a solo home-run.

In the rubber-match, the Bobcats and the Lions played through four scoreless innings with both sides digging their heels into the ground defensively.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bobcats finally broke through the Lions defense.

Freshman Ava Renteria started the at bat with a bunt single before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Sidney Harvey.

Senior outfielder Keely Williams scored Renteria on an RBI single through the right side as the Bobcats broke the scoreless tie to lead 1-0.

Later in the at bat, the Bobcats loaded up the bases with one out. Junior Karmyn Bass connected with an RBI single into left field as Texas State extended the lead.

Freshman Harley Vestal then connected with a two-run RBI double, making it a 4-0 game.

Southeastern Louisiana tacked on a run in the top of the sixth inning but it wasn’t enough as the Bobcats won 4-1 to take the three-game series over the Lions.

Williams talked about the team’s struggles during non-conference play and how they have been trying to find their identity. But after the Bobcats Game 1 loss to the Lions on Friday, the setback sparked the team leading to both wins to take the series.

“I feel like the last few weeks, we’ve been really trying to find our game,” Williams said. “We’ve been trying to find different ways and different strategies and I feel like after our team talk yesterday, we just broke it down to, this is what works with us, and this is what doesn’t. So just bringing it today or actually bringing it to the 2nd game yesterday and then today it came all together.”

The combination of junior pitcher Madison Azua, senior pitcher Emma Strood and freshman Chesney Davis kept the Lions offense at bay with Davis earning both her first collegiate win and save while Strood won her first game of the season during the series. Despite taking the loss in Game 1, Azua struck out 10 batters.

“I thought the pitching staff did a great job the entire time,” Woodard said. “You take away two swings out of Azua’s [pitching in Game 1, it’s a different game] and she has a ton of strikeouts. I thought the pitching staff is what kept us in the ball games. Between that and the defense just letting us make plays, I thought they were lights out.”

GAME PREVIEW Texas State will host their final home tournament of the season in the San Marcos Show Down. The Bobcats will open the tournament Friday against Tarleton and St. Francis. On Saturday, the Bobcats will take on St. Francis again before hosting No. 18 ranked Texas A&M. Texas State will close out the tournament Sunday against Tarleton.

With just two weeks left before conference play, Woodard stressed the importance of continuing their success into next weekend.

“The same thing that we just talked about again is that every game is hard to win now,” Woodard said. “You better be 100% tuned in and have a whole team effort, which is what I thought this weekend was for us. It’s not going to change nor doesn’t matter who’s in the other dugout. We have to take care of our business.”

First pitch for Texas State-Tarleton is set for 3:30 p.m. Friday at Bobcat Softball Stadium followed by St. Francis at 5:45 p.m.