The Bobcats clinched the series against the Southern Miss, winning in dominant fashion 8-1.
Texas State improves to 31-16 for the season and 11-6 in conference play while Southern Miss falls to 29-19 and 10-7 in conference play.
“They're just [having] confident swings,” Head Coach Ricci Woodard said. “I've been waiting all year for that. As long as the pitching staff stays as confident as they've been, and the bats start to go like they're going right now, we're going to be hard to beat.”
The Golden Eagles struck first, scoring on a leadoff home run in the top of the first to lead 1-0.
After the leadoff homer, senior pitcher Emma Strood went to work, allowing just one run, three hits, two walks and striking out three batters.
“I kind of feel like something's clicked, and we're all clicking at the right time,” Strood said. ”We're all getting hot at the right time. So I'm really happy about that and I've been feeling good.”
Texas State tied the game in the bottom of the third as senior Sami Hood scored junior Kate Bubela on an RBI groundout.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bobcats put runners on first and second with one out before senior Aiyana Colemen crushed a three-run home run to put Texas State up 4-1.
Hood tacked on another run with a RBI single, extending the lead to 5-1.
The Bobcats added another run in the bottom of the fifth as Bubela drew a bases loaded walk.
In the bottom of the sixth, senior Keely Williams joined the home run parade, crushing a solo home run in right that bounced off the scoreboard to extend the lead 7-1.
Texas State loaded up the bases with one out before Southern Miss intentionally walked Coleman, scoring a run for the Bobcats and making it an 8-1 game.
“I was kind of shocked because I figured they would at least pitch to me because bases were loaded,” Coleman said. “But I took it as a sign of ultimate respect because bases were loaded.”
Coleman was intentionally walked twice against Southern Miss which allowed the senior to break the single season record for most walks.
Texas State goes for the conference series sweep tomorrow against the Golden Eagles. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. Sunday at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
