Softball Suffers Second Straight Run-Rule Loss

In game two of the Bobcats' Saturday doubleheader, Texas State took on the New Mexico Lobos in the CenturyLink Classic. The 'Cats were 1-1 looking to rebound after a crushing 10-0 run-rule loss to Oklahoma State just an hour earlier. Texas State put freshman Anna Marie Taylor on the mound to face off against freshman Kari Gutierrez for the Lobos, but UNM decidedly won the battle of the freshman pitchers in an 8-0 run-rule victory in five innings.

The Bobcats started pretty well as Haley Lemons got a base hit in the top of the first, and then Leah Boatright drew a walk to put two runners on for the Cats. However, nothing came out of it as Anna Hernandez popped out to end the inning. In the bottom of the first, Anna Marie Taylor held the Lobos to nothing sending them down in order.

In the top of the second Jenna Emery was hit by inside pitch by Hernandez, and eventually made it to third base on two fielder choice hits by Allyce Rother and Megan Parten. The inning ended though with the Bobcats not scoring when Shelby Carnline struck out. UNM then ended the Bobcats' run of good luck when Stefanie Carramusa hit a three run home run to put the Lobos up 3-0. That was all New Mexico got out of that half of the inning.

In the top of the 3rd the Cats once again showed life when Kristina Tello reached on a fielder’s choice and Haley Lemons hit a double advancing her to third base. However, Leah Boatright and Anna Hernandez could not knock them in. The Lobos struck back with a double by Sherise Cox, but nothing was to come of it in the bottom of the third.

In the top of the fourth inning the Bobcats were unable to get anything done as all 3 batters went down in order. UNM put more pressure on Texas State in the bottom of the fourth, as Shaunte Duarte hit a lead off triple and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Jordyn Bledsoe.

The Bobcats finally had their dreams of a victory dashed in the bottom of the fifth inning when the Lobos hit 2 back-to-back home runs by Cristin Anderson and Cassandra Kalapsa. Elizabeth Dennis replaced Taylor on the mound once again as Texas State faced a 6-0 deficit. However, the pitching change led to minimal results for Texas State, as a two run triple by Stefanie Carramusa finally nailed the lid on the coffin of the Bobcats.

With the loss Texas State falls to 1-2 while UNM moves to 1-1. Texas State will face a rematch against Oklahoma State on Sunday at 11:30 AM and will take on SLC rival UT-Arlington immediately afterwards at 2 PM. Both games will be played at the Bobcat Softball Complex, and you can listen to live coverage of the two contests on Stretch Internet at www.txstatebobcats.com.

-TJ Ladusky, KTSW Sports Staff Writer