Bobcats sweep Penn State, enter Top 25 to start conference play

In one of the most impressive series of wins of the season, Texas State defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions in a double header winning the first game 2-1 and the second 6-0 last Friday to finish the sweep of the full three-game series.

With the sweep, the Bobcats and Head Coach Ricci Woodard moved to 20-6 overall. The wins also drew the attention of the national media with new rankings showing the Bobcats in the Top 25 by Softball America and D1 Softball while receiving votes in ESPN/USA and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association rankings.

For Woodard, the Bobcats defensive play, both in the pitching circle and on the field, was the key in both wins on Friday.

“I thought, tonight, our defense showed up,” Woodard “We made some key defensive plays that let us keep the momentum. Without those plays, the games would’ve been a lot different. Our defense played outstanding tonight.”

In the first game of the doubleheader, Texas State found themselves down in the first inning following a Penn State RBI single up the middle as the Nittany Lions led 1-0.

Shortstop Hannah Earls got on base with a leadoff single into left field before moving to third base on a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Ciara Trahan.

Following a forced walk by third baseman Sara Vanderford, right fielder Anna Jones scored Earls on a groundout at second to score the first run of the game for the Bobcats.

Penn State ended the inning with a groundout to the pitcher as the game was tied at 1-1.

The next six innings turned into a pitcher’s duel as both teams held the other off the scoreboard.

Karsen Pierce took the circle for the Bobcats in the start and held the Nittany Lion bats down despite the first inning.

The senior pitcher threw five innings while allowing three hits, one earned run and two walks while striking out four batters.

Pitcher Madison Azua closed out the game for the Bobcats throwing three innings and allowing no hits, no runs, two walks and striking out one batter.

In a battle where neither team refused to give in, it soon became a matter of who would break first between the Bobcats and the Nittany Lions.

“You could tell that was a game for both of us that was a “gut it out” game,” Woodard said. “(Pierce and Azua) did a great job controlling the game for us and giving us a chance to win.”

With the game still tied at 1-1 after the standard seven innings, Texas State and Penn State entered the eighth to give the fans some free softball.

With a designated runner on second to start extra inning play, Penn State looked to take their first lead of the game.

Penn State immediately went for the sac bunt to move the designated runner to third base, now 60 feet away from home plate, as the Bobcats got the first out.

But the defensive prowess of the Bobcats proved to be the difference. A ground ball to Azua allowed the freshman to catch the base runner at third flat footed and throw the potential game winning run for the put out.

The Nittany Lions also did not help themselves out in the next at-bat. The base runner on first was caught leaving first early for the final out of the inning as the Bobcats came up to bat.

With Katarina Zarate being the designated runner at second, Texas State put runners on first and second following a Penn State throwing error.

A fielder’s choice by Earls combined with the error by Penn State loaded the bases for the Bobcats with no outs.

Left fielder Ciara Trahan ended the game for Texas State by hitting a deep fly ball into left field allowing Zarate to score, as the Bobcats captured the crucial 2-1 to win the series and allow the ‘Cats to go for the sweep.

Texas State came out swinging in the first inning as catcher Karmyn Bass connected with a two-run RBI double into right field as the Bobcats went up 2-0.

Bass struck again in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Bobcats were held scoreless in four innings of play, hitting another RBI double to score two more runs, as Texas State was up 4-0.

Hannah Earls scored the final two runs of the game with another two-run RBI singles as the Bobcats went on to complete the sweep with a 6-0 win over Penn State.

Jessica Mullins took the circle in the second game of the doubleheader, throwing a complete game shutout while allowing just two hits, one walk and striking out three batters.

“If the other team doesn’t score, you’re going to win,” Woodard said. “If you can put zeros on the board over and over again, that gives us a chance to stick around and figure out how to score more runs on the board late.”

Texas State returns to play this weekend for the conference opener as the Bobcats make the trip to Harrisonburg, Virginia to take the James Madison Dukes.

First pitch set for 2 p.m. Friday afternoon.

cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc