Texas State rallied in the sixth inning, scoring two runs to seal a 3-1 win over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in the opener of the Bobcat Tournament.
The Bobcats and Head Coach Ricci Woodard improved to 3-2 for the season in the 95th all-time meeting between Texas State and SFA.
“We finally got some timely hits,” Woodard said. “That’s gonna be the key for us. We've got to get some more timely hits as the ball game goes so we don't keep people around.”
With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bobcats reached base following a SFA error on the at-bat of junior first baseman Aiyana Coleman. Coleman earlier hit a leadoff homerun in the second inning for the Bobcats first run of the game.
Freshman Melania Reeves came in to pinch-run before junior center fielder Keely Williams came up to bat.
Facing a 3-1 count, Williams belted a double toward left center field, scoring Reeves to break the deadlock and put the Bobcats up 2-1.
“It’s funny because at the start of that bat, I was trying to get a sac bunt because Coach Wood was giving me the sign,” Williams said “So obviously got to listen to head coach, but it was a 3-1 count, still all balls and finally she just threw one that was good enough to hit into the five/six hole, so I just attacked early.”
After Williams stole third base, freshman designated hitter Abby Garza hit an RBI double of her own to score Williams and extend the lead to 3-1.
Heading into the top of the seventh inning,
sophomore starting pitcher Azua felt better in closing the game with a two-run lead.
“It feels amazing,” Azua said “Knowing that I have a little more leniency to pitch with [felt] great.”
Azua closes out the inning and the game by setting the batters down in order, including sealing the game with her ninth strikeout of the night.
The sophomore pitcher from Round Rock threw a complete game, allowing just four hits, one earned run and nine strikeouts in spite of the 40 degree weather temperatures.
“In this weather and to throw the whole time, I thought she did a great job,” Woodard said. “Just competing the day after day, pitch after pitch in this weather that she had to throw in tonight.”
Texas State returns to play Friday night for their second game against SFA before taking on St. Thomas later in the day.
