Texas State pushed the No. 1 ranked team in the nation to their limit as the Longhorns escaped San Marcos with a 3-2 win.
The Bobcats overall record falls to 20-13 overall while Texas improves to 29-1.
“I like the way we came out,” Head Coach Ricci Woodard said. “Especially because we didn't play real well this past weekend. We kind of gave away some games in my opinion and in [the players] opinion, so I think it was nice just to see them come back out and kind of figure out who we are again.”
The Bobcats loaded up the bases with one out in the bottom of the third inning following a single from senior Sami Hood, a walk by Keely Williams and a single from senior Karmyn Bass.
Senior Aiyana Coleman made contact with the ball up the middle was the second baseman stepped on second for the forceout. But on the throw to first, the throw was overthrown, allowing both Hood and Willliams to score while Coleman was tagged out at second trying to advance.
The Longhorns put runners on first and second with one out following a Bobcat error and a walk before scoring their first run of the game on another Bobcat error.
Texas threatened to score again with runners on first and second with one out but a flyout caught by senior catcher Megan Kelnar and a putout by junior Kat Zarate ended the at-bat.
Texas later tied the game on a solo home run by Reese Atwood in the top of the sixth inning.
The Longhorns later took the lead as Katie Stewart hit a solo home run over the wall in center as Texas State trailed 3-2.
Texas State made one last attempt to complete the upset in the bottom of the seventh but the Longhorns were able to escape the inning and hand the Bobcats the loss.
The Texas State pitching staff of junior Madison Azua and senior Emma Strood along with the defense held the Longhorn offense to just three runs after coming into the showdown averaging over nine runs per game.
“When you have to face Maddie Azua andthat change up all the time, you got to figure out what you're going to do with it,” Woodard said. “It took them a while to get to it and then obviously they got to it. But again that pitching staff right there with that 1-2 combo that we put against [Texas], I think they're as good as anybody in the country when they're on.”
The Bobcats will have another massive conference series this weekend as Texas State hosts conference leader Marshall.
The Thundering Herd enter the series with a 23-9 overall record and a 5-1 conference record beating Miami [OH] in their mid-week game and sweeping Georgia Southern last weekend in conference play.
First pitch for Friday’s game is set for 6 p.m. at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
