After throwing a complete game against Tarleton State the game before, Head Coach Ricci Woodard handed the ball off to pitcher Madison Azua in the top of the sixth inning with the Bobcats leading No. 14 ranked Texas A&M 3-1.
Despite having her nerves going through the roof, Azua was able to find a sense of calm through her team.
“My teammates helped calm me down and get me in the right headspace because they know exactly what to say to me,” Azua said. “It felt so good (to get that final strikeout).”
Azua got the final six outs, including two strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh as Texas State secured a 3-1 win over ranked Aggies.
It was an emotional win for the Bobcats who had three transfers come from Texas A&M including redshirt freshman Harley Vestal who hit a two-run RBI double to give Texas State the lead.
This one is huge,” Vestal said. “ For the Bobcats in general, it's a huge win, but it obviously feels amazing coming from us. It was a great one. I could not be more happy.”
The Aggies scored first in the top of the third inning, hitting a solo home run into right field off the scoreboard to take the early 1-0 lead.
But the Bobcats answered back in the bottom of the fourth inning as freshman Harley Vestal, a Texas A&M transfer, connected with a two-run RBI double to give the Bobcats a 2-1 lead.
Later in the bottom of the fifth inning, senior Keely Williams, another Texas A&M transfer, extended the lead with an RBI single through the right side, putting the Bobcats up 3-1.
“At the beginning, we were a little slow to get it started,” Azua said “But I think once we picked up the energy and the momentum, we had it. It was our game the whole time.”
The Aggies put runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the sixth inning but a strikeout by Azua, who entered the sixth inning following Emma Strood, ended the at-bat.
Azua closed out the seventh inning with two strikeouts to seal the win.
“That's the thing we've been talking about, is that it's not okay to lose,” Head Coach Ricci Woodard said. “Sometimes I feel like they kind of give in, and we're going to get beat by somebody good, it's okay. We talked before this game that if anything's going to happen, they have to believe it's going to happen. … the whole team in that dugout believed we could win that game”
Texas State gets their revenge against Tarleton State
The Bobcats rallied in the sixth inning, defeating the Tarleton State Texans 8-2.
Tarleton State struck first in the top of the fourth inning, hitting a two-run home run to go up 2-0 over the Bobcats.
After struggling to find any offensive momentum, the Bobcats found their way onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on first and second with one out, Harley Vestal connected with an RBI single into left field as Karmyn Bass scored from second, beating the throw home.
Later in the at-bat with the bases loaded, freshman Chesney Davis hit a bloop single to score two runs as the Bobcats took their first lead of the game. Later with runners on the corners, Davis stole second, allowing senior Sami Hood to take home.
Following a walk by senior Sidney Harvey, senior Keely Williams hit an RBI single, extending the lead to 5-2.
Following Williams, Bubela crushed a three-run home run into center field, pushing the lead to 8-2.
Madison Azua closed out the game, sitting the Texans down in order to complete the win. Azua finished the game with 11 strikeouts.
