College Softball: Bobcat belt Troy for 5-0 win

Texas State’s Jordan Masek is congratulated by her teammates after hitting her third home run of the season in Wednesday’s 5-0 win over Troy.

Texas State pitcher Rayn House picked up her first win of the season, while Jordan Masek blasted her third home run of the year in the Bobcats’ 5-0 win over Troy Wednesday afternoon at Bobcat Ballpark.

Rayn (1-8) went the distance, allowing four hits in six innings with seven strikeouts and one walk. Offensively, four other Bobcats notched hits, while catcher Macie Hair hit an RBI double.

Texas State got an early jump on Troy with a run in the second inning, but the Bobcats broke the game open in the third, exploding for three runs thanks to costly Troy errors.

Kellie Baker reached base on a high pop up the centerfielder dropped, and then, after two outs, Troy pitcher Rachel Rigney walked Harris for the second time. With runners at the corners, Harris stole second to put both runners in scoring position.

After that, designated player Katie Doerre hit a grounder the Troy shortstop couldn’t handle. Baker scored on the play, but the Bobcats weren’t done. Delia Saucedo sent a roller to third and the ball somehow got past the third baseman and shortstop to score both runners. All three runs in the inning were unearned.

Troy had a chance to score in the first inning, but House recovered for the third out. After a strikeout and a fly out to start the game, House hit the third batter and walked the fourth. With runners at first and second and two outs, House forced a fielder’s choice that Masek handled all by herself for the force at second.

Hair gave the Bobcats a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second with her shot into right-center field, scoring Delia Saucedo, before getting thrown out at third trying to stretch out a triple.

The first Trojan hit didn’t come until the third inning when centerfielder Ebony Wright laid a bunt down the third base line. After House’s fourth strikeout and a Troy groundout though, Hair and Masek teamed up to catch Wright stealing and keep the Trojans scoreless.

The Bobcats put the first two Troy batters out quickly in the fourth, and, after a single, House notched her fifth strikeout on a beautiful pitch to catch the outside corner.

Then, in the bottom of the fourth, Masek sent one over the left field fence for her third home run of the season, a solo shot, to extend the lead to 5-0 in favor of the Bobcats.

Texas State closed out the game with three scoreless innings to secure the victory and improve to 4-19 on the season.

The Bobcats will next be in action this weekend as the squad travels to Sacramento, Calif., for the Capitol Classic. Texas State will face Sacramento State, Kansas, Fresno State and St. Mary’s at the tournament.