Game 1 Softball Double-Header VIctory

Texas State softball hosted McNeese State for the first Southland Conference series held at the new Bobcat Softball Complex Saturday, winning the first game 4-2 over the Cowgirls.

The Cowgirls were held to only 4 hits in the first game of the weekend double header due to a valiant effort by freshman pitcher Chandler Hall. Hall got the call to start her second consecutive game on the circle at home, lasting 6 innings and striking out 4.

The weather played a significant role on the day's action. It was sunny and cold, but most notable windy. The wind forced dozens of normally playable balls out of play, as well as three errors, 2 for Texas State.

McNeese State got on the board first in the 4th inning with two runs, spurred by second baseman Whitney Corbello's single to left field. Shortstop Molly Guidry reached on an error by Bobcat senior second baseman Ryan Kos, who bobbled a grounder, and infielder Holly Long walked to load the bases. Cowgirl first baseman Heather Mosser singled to left, scoring two. Quickly, sophomore left fielder Allyce Rother fired back into third base, catching Long in a pickle. Long made a successful slide back into second base during the rundown, where Kos made the catch, but failed to apply the tag the runner. Long, however, came off the bag, with Kos still aware of the play to quickly tag the runner out.

Texas State responded to McNeese's 4th inning statement in the home half of the inning when senior right fielder Taylor Hall reached first on an error by Guidry. Her sister, Chandler Hall, crushed a double to the right centerfield wall, scoring T. Hall all the way from first, putting the Bobcats on the board for the first time.

In the Bobcat 5th, Rother tripled to right field after the ball was carried over right fielder Lindsey Langer's head, due to the aforementioned windy conditions. Rother stole home on a ground ball off the bat of junior utility player Kristina Tello's bat. Mosser made a throw, but was off the mark and Rother reached home safely. Rother showed excellent timing in her base running ability on the play; Guidry checked back on her before making the throw, and once the shortstop cocked her arm back, Rother put her head down and charged home.

Throughout the game, the Bobcats showed their excellence on the basepaths: senior shortstop Alex Newton stole second base in the 5th and twice in the game, T. Hall set up a trick play in which she would steal second with a runner on third. Forcing a throw to second, this allowed the runner at third to steal home. However, this tactic only succeeded once.

The Bobcats deposited insurance runs in the 6th beginning with a lead-off walk to Junior first baseman Leah Boatright. Freshman Allison Snow pinch hit for sophomore infielder McKenzie Baack only to ground out to third base. Nonetheless, Snow put Boatright at second, and sophomore third baseman Jenna Emery doubled to center to score her comrade Boatright. Kos singled and advanced to second on an errant throw, allowing Emery to scored as well, securing the final score for the Cats.

McNeese threatened to comeback in the top of the 7th inning, which brought junior pitcher Elizabeth Dennis out from the 'pen to close the game, despite inheriting a runner on base. With the score 4-2, Dennis gave up one hit, allowing runners at second and third to represent the tying runs. McNeese's last hope to tie the game came down to center fielder Liz Morvant, who chopped a one-hopper to Dennis. Dennis made an emphatic snag, flipped to first base and the Bobcats won over McNeese State, 4-2.

Chandler Hall shows tremendous promise as a freshman Bobcat. She started the home opener in San Marcos against then-ranked No. 19 Texas A&M, only allowing two hits. Against McNeese, Hall showed poise on the circle to take advantage of the Cowgirls slowly crumbling efforts. For the first 4 innings, Cowgirl pitcher Bethany Stefinsky was in good control of the momentum for her team, but once the Bobcats scored in back-to-back innings, Stefinsky's composure faded quickly. C. Hall showed great tenacity in shutting down the Cowgirl offense, sitting runners down in order in the 5th and allowing no hits in the 6th inning. She naturally tired in the 6th, so head coach Ricci Woodard made the call to the bullpen.

Mason Robinson-KTSW Sports Staff Writer