The Bobcats needed just one run to capture another win as Texas State defeated rival Sam Houston 1-0 in non-conference play.
Texas State improves to 16-8 overall while Sam Houston falls to 16-1-11 in the 117 all-meeting between the two teams.
“We just talked about it [that we] have to be better if we're going to do what we want to do down the stretch of this thing,” Head Coach Ricci Woodard said. “We have to do a better job in all areas.It’s that simple. Energy offensively, pitching, even though [Madison Azua] had 11 strikeouts, we put way too many base runners on for them. We just haveto do a better job if we want to manage what we want down the stretch.”
Starting pitcher Madison Azua threw a complete game shutout, allowing just five hits, one walk and striking out 11 batters.
Woodard was proud of the junior left hander’s performance, noting her demeanor with runners on base.
“She did a good job of managing the situations,” Woodard said. ”But sooner or later, those situations will catch up to you if you're not careful. I thought she did a good job of managing what she needed to.”
The lone run scored from the Bobcats came from redshirt freshman Harley Vestal who hit a sacrifice fly in deep left field to score Kate Bubela from third, putting Texas State up 1-0.
Woodard talked about the need for the offense to improve, highlighting senior Keely Williams’ performance who went 2-3 from the plate.
“We have to do a better job of staying above the ball and driving the ball the opposite way,” Woodard said. “Just like Keely Williams is doing for us all day long. I just told themif you want to imitate somebody, imitate that, because she's doing a good job of just staying above the ball, not trying to get it out of the yard with the wind blowing in at 30 miles an hour.”
The Bobcats start conference play this weekend as Texas State hosts the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks.
The Warhawks enter conference play with a 16-12 overall record coming off a midweek loss to Central Arkansas last Tuesday.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
