Texas State holds off Chanticleers for 5-3 win

Two home runs by Coastal Carolina weren’t enough to beat the Bobcats, as Texas State earned a 5-3 win in its first game of its road series with the Chanticleers.

The visitors jumped out in front in the top of the frame. Junior infielder Bailee Carter singled to the pitcher in the second at-bat of the game. Sophomore infielder Tara Oltmann followed by blasting a ball over the right center field fence, giving the team a 2-0 edge.

Oltmann crossed home plate again in the third inning. She led off walking on a full count and advanced to second on a sac bunt by junior infielder Hailey MacKay. Sophomore infielder ArieAnn Bell drove her home with a single up the middle.

But the Chanticleers clawed their way back into the game. Coastal Carolina sophomore catcher Samantha Sack homered to right field with no one on to cut into the deficit. The Bobcats added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth to extend the lead 5-1 and looked to close out in the bottom of the seventh.

The team got two outs in the first three at-bats, but one runner reached first base on a single. The visitors’ freshman designated player Samantha Beyer hit another home run to left center, giving the Chanticleers momentum.

The hosts got the final out of the inning, though, as the next batter flied out, sealing the 5-3 victory. 

Bell finished the game hitting 2-3 for two RBIs. Oltmann earned a pair of RBIs as well, finishing 1-3. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Meagan King (14-8) earned the win with three runs on five hits, one walk and three strike out in a complete game.

Texas State (22-17, 10-5 Sun Belt) continued its series against Coastal Carolina on Saturday. The game ended after press time. The teams will end the series on Sunday at 11 a.m. in Conway, South Carolina.