Texas State clinched their series against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, winning 5-0.
The Bobcats improve to 33-18 overall and 13-7 in conference play while Coastal falls to 22-28 for the season and 6-14 in conference play.
“I thought Emma Strood threw a really good ball game today,” Woodard said. ‘That always kind of sets the tone in my opinion. So to come out, get a couple [of runs] early and just continue to build on that on this emotional day, I'm really proud of them.”
Senior pitcher Emma Strood led the way for the Bobcats, throwing a complete game shutout while allowing just two hits, two walks and striking out five batters. Strood also sat down 16 consecutive Coastal batters in a row.
“I told her before the game that if she hit her spots and spun the ball well today, she was going to have a really good game,” Woodard said. “I thought she did a really good job of just keeping them off balance and keeping the ball in the zone enough, but she’s doing a really good job just to keep that offensive lineup off balance.”
The Bobcats struck first in the bottom of the second when senior Sami Hood hit a deep sacrifice fly in center field, scoring both senior Sydney Harvey and junior Kate Bubela at second and third.
Later in the bottom of the fourth, the Bobcats loaded up the bases before senior Keely Williams drew a walk to score Bubela at third, extending the lead to 3-0.
Senior Karmyn Bass added on to the lead, hitting into a fielder’s choice but scoring senior Megan Kelnar at third.
Kelnar tacked on another run for the Bobcats in the bottom of the fifth, hitting a single in right to score Bubela from first.
Strood kept Coastal from scoring in the top of the seventh to complete the win.
Texas State goes for the sweep Sunday against the Chanticleers. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. Sunday.
