Texas State stays on top at Owl Classic

Texas State softball had a run rule win and extra inning win in its pair of outings against Penn and Illinois State on the second day of the Owl Classic.

An all-around team effort was shown between both games to help the Bobcats advance to a 15-5 record on the season.

On the second day of the Owl Classic the Bobcats got out on a hot streak. To start off the five-run inning for the Bobcats, Sara Vanderford hit a double that allowed Ciara Trahan to score.

From there, Anna Jones scored off JJ Smith’s at bat to give the Bobcats the 2-0 lead. Up to bat next was Katarina Zarate who hit a homerun for three RBI that allowed Vanderford and Smith score.

From there, Karsen Pierce had a strong game on the mound. She pitched four innings and allowed just three hits and one walk on 18 batters faced.

In the second inning Trahan scored her second run of the day to give the Bobcats a six run lead.

The Bobcats tacked on two more runs from Smith and Zarate in the top of the fourth inning before closing out the runrule victory on an Anna Jones run in the fourth inning. Jones, Zarate, Smith and Trahan each had two runs on the day, which is the first time this season the Bobcats had four players with multiple runs in a single game.

In game two, the Bobcats were struggling to find their way into the game. Despite having three hits in the opening three innings, the Bobcats headed into the fourth inning down 1-0.

Illinois State took the lead off an RBI single, with the Redbirds getting the opening run of the day.

Through the next three innings the Bobcats were able to get three more hits off but were unable to find a run.

Six strikeouts off the mound from Jessica Mullins kept Illinois State off the board after the third inning run.

From there, the Bobcats once again rallied back to tie it in the bottom of the seventh. After Zarate was hit by a pitch to open the inning, she advanced to home off a Megan Kelnar groundout, a Emilee Baker single and an error from the Redbird’s second basemen.

The Bobcats were unable to find a winner in the bottom of the seventh to get the win but in extra innings found their way to another road win.

Randolph scored and Jones scored on back-toback at bats in the eighth inning, benefiting off an error from the Redbirds first basemen.

In the bottom of the eighth the Redbirds looked to fight back but two more strikeouts from Mullins to close the game and would secure the 3-1 win on the day.