TXST SOFTBALL
Following a tough road loss to Texas on Wednesday, the Bobcats bounced back and swept the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in a three-game series.
The trio of victories improves the Bobcats’ overall record to 28-12 and their conference record to 11-4. The sweep also puts Texas State in a tie for first place in the Sun Belt Conference standings with Georgia Southern.
In the first game against Southern Miss, the Bobcats jumped on the Golden Eagles from the start.
Junior right fielder Keely Williams scored first for the Bobcats, laying down a sacrifice bunt before Southern Miss committed a throwing error to allow a Texas State run to come across. Facing runners on second and third, junior first baseman Aiyana Coleman connected with a two-run RBI single, putting the Bobcats up 3-0.
Junior designated player Karmyn Bass then hit a three-run inside the park home run with the help of a Southern Miss error, extending the lead to 6-0.
After an RBI single from junior second baseman Sidney Harvey, Williams connected with a two-run RBI single as the Bobcats ended the first inning up 9-0.
Southern Miss scored one run in the bottom of the second inning before the Bobcats tacked on more runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Williams struck again, hitting a two-run RBI triple once again to extend the lead before Coleman scored Williams on an RBI single to make the final score 12-1.
Starting pitcher Madison Azua threw five innings and allowed just five hits, one earned run, no walks while striking out six batters.
In the second game, the Bobcats once again struck first in the first inning, scoring a run on an RBI single from Coleman to go up 1-0. Later in the second inning, Bubela scored Mayson Garrett at third on a groundout, extending the lead to 2-0.
The Bobcats later added three more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Freshman center fielder Bailee Slack hit an RBI single down the third base line before Coleman smashed a two-run home run into right-center field to make it a 5-0 game and seal the win.
Junior pitcher Analisa Soliz pitched through 4.2 innings, allowing just three hits, no earned runs, two walks and striking out four batters to earn her second win of the season. Azua earned her second save of the season, pitching 2.1 innings and proceeded to sit down the next seven batters while also striking out four batters.
Looking to complete the sweep, the Bobcats defeated the Golden Eagles 2-0 in the third and final game of the series.
Azua earned her second start of the weekend, throwing a complete game shutout while allowing just four hits, no earned runs, no walks and striking out seven batters.
Senior left fielder Ciara Trahan scored the first run for the Bobcats on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning. Erin Peterson scored the second run of the game in the top of the seventh inning, hitting an RBI single.
The Bobcats will be on the road this week in a showdown with the rival UTSA Roadrunners. Texas State will complete their game against UTSA on March 26 after it was halted due to weather.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
