The Bobcats completed a clean sweep of the Bobcat Tournament, closing out the weeking with a 6-2 win over the New Mexico Lobos.
Texas State and Head Coach Ricci Woodard improved their overall record to 8-2.
“When you can come out and play the sixth ball game and give up a run early in the first inning, I'm like, okay, this is gonna be interesting to see which way we go,” Woodard said. “I love the way we responded. That's what I've told them all weekend. I love the way they competed.”
Texas State found themselves down early when the Lobos scored on a Jessica DeLeon, a San Marcos High School graduate, RBI single.
Trailing 1-0, Texas State gave their answer in the first inning.
Following a forced walk by freshman designated hitter Melania Reeves, junior centerfielder Keely Williams connected with a RBI double towards right-center field to score Reeves and tie the game at 1-1.
The Bobcats took the lead in the next-at when junior first baseman Aiyana Coleman connected with an RBI single to score Williams, allowing the Bobcats to take their first lead of the game at 2-1.
The Bobcats tacked on more runs in the bottom of the second inning. Junior rightfielder Sidney Harvey hit an RBI single to score senior leftfielder Ciara Trahan and extend the lead to 3-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bobcats struck again when freshman shortstop Erin Peterson hit a sacrifice fly to score Trahan and push the lead to 4-1.
Later in the inning, the Bobcats scored two more runs, taking advantage of a New Mexico throwing error and led 6-1.
The Lobos added one run in the top of the seventh inning but could not complete the comeback as Texas State won 6-2.
Starting pitcher Emma Strood won her fourth game of the season, throwing six innings and allowing just five hits, one earned run, one walk while striking out eight batters.
“It was a little bit colder today, but I had a Karmyn behind [the plate],” Strood said.
“She was really working for me, so I felt I was throwing my best stuff. She was really working to get the umpire to see what I was throwing too.”
Woodard has been pleased with her pitchers over the past two tournaments with their ability of attacking the plate.
“The best thing about our pitching staff is they attack the zone,” Woodard said. “Emma's hard to umpire. I've had to stand out here and try to do it myself. She lives around the zone and so every ball she throws is pretty close to do I have to swing or not swing. That's what makes her successful.”
With the win over the Lobos, Texas State went a perfect 6-0 during the Bobcat Tournament with two wins each over Stephen. F Austin and New Mexcio along with victories over St. Thomas and Fordham.
As the Bobcats prepare for the San Marcos Classic, growing as a team will be crictial in Texas State's march towards conference play.
“This team's going to be about growth,” Woodard saidd. “If we can grow each weekend, which is what again we just talked about a little bit. We can't take a rep off and practice right now, because we don't get many days to do it. For us to keep growing and be our best in May, we just gotta keep playing exactly like we did this weekend and getting better every weekend.”
The Bobcats return home Tuesday night in a showdown with former conference rival Sam Houston.
