Texas State opened up conference play with a win, beating App State 8-2 in the first game of the three-game series.
The Bobcats and Head Coach Ricci Woodard improved to 16-6 overall and 1-0 in conference play, scoring four unanswered runs in the final three at-bats.
“It gives us a lot of confidence just to have each other's back, to see where we are as a team and where we need to grow,” junior outfielder Sidney Harvey said. “Having this first win gives us a lot of confidence and good momentum moving forward.”
Though she was overall happy with the win, Woodard still wants to see improvement from her team.
“We gave them the momentum for a way too many innings in my opinion,” Woodard said. “That's the only thing I want us to do a little bit better job of is figure out how to get the momentum back a little bit earlier in the game.”
Texas State struck first when first baseman Aiyana Coleman hit an RBI single with runners on first and second, putting the Bobcats up 1-0.
Catcher Karmyn Bass followed up Coleman with an RBI single of her own as the lead was extended to 2-0.
After Kate Bubela reached base safely on a fielder’s choice, outfielder Ciara Trahan hit a two-run RBI, pushing the lead to 4-0.
“Anytime you can put up four in the first inning, you're setting yourself up for success,” Woodard said. “But then you have a long game to keep that success and then I think that's the thing where I wanna see growth.”
App State answered back in the top of the third inning, scoring on a passed ball to cut the lead down to 4-1.
In the top of the fourth inning, App State cut the lead down to 4-2 after an RBI single with the bases loaded.
With the Mountaineers threatening to take the lead, the Bobcats leaned on their defense.
Texas State turned the 1-2-3 double play before Harvey made the catch by reaching over the wall in foul ground for the final out.
“I'm just trying to read the pitch, the hitter, and just get there as fast as I can to make a play for my team,” Harvey said. “Back up my pitcher and kind of kill [App State’s] momentum, going forward.”
As the game progressed, both the double play and Harvey’s catch proved to be the difference maker.
“That’s how you get the momentum back is to go out and do that,” Woodard said. “If you can't get it back on offense, the goal is to get it back on defense and that was a game changer right there.”
The Bobcat offense responded by adding on to their lead.
Freshman Mayson Garrett blasted a leadoff home run over the wall in left field and into the bullpen, extending the lead 5-2.
“On my last at-bat, she got me on a low outside pitch,” Garrett said. “I was just hoping that she gave me something inside.”
The Bobcats added on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, pushing the lead up to 8-2.
Coming in from the bullpen to relieve starting pitcher Emma Strood, pitcher Madison Azua sat down 10 straight batters in a row through 3.1 innings of work to earn her 8th win of the season.
“That’s something that hasn’t been in her favor this year,” Woodard said. “She hasn't come out of the bullpen and done a great job for us or she has sat and watched the [first] game then pitched the second game. So tonight it was really great to see that she came in and took the game over. It gave us a chance to get the momentum back.”
Texas State will look for the series win tomorrow against App State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
