Boatright Bombs #15 Texas, Walks Off Into Sunset

Exciting doesn’t even begin to describe the match up between Texas State and Texas on Wednesday night. Leah Boatright’s 3-run homer in the bottom of the 7th clinched a 9-7 walk-off win for the Bobcats over the 15th ranked Longhorns, bringing their record to 14-13 for the season.

Chandler Hall was the starting pitcher, and she dominated for almost half of the game. Hall was able to shut down the Longhorn batters with her off-speed change ups and by working the outside corners of the plate. The Texas State batting lineup backed up their pitcher by coming out and swinging right from the very first pitch. Throughout the first part of the game the Bobcats continuously put the ball in play, then Leah Boatright had her first home run in the 4th to bring the Bobcat lead to 4-0. Haley Lemons, McKenzie Baack, and Kristina Tello also contributed with hits and runs.

However, in the top of the 4th the Bobcats began to run into a little trouble. Chandler Hall started showing signs of fatigue and the Longhorn bats took advantage of every missed pitch. Texas’s Amy Hooks and Loryn Johnson both put up back to back solo home runs, decreasing the Bobcat lead to 4-2. Hall struggled in the 5th inning, allowing 4 runs for the Longhorns. Coach Woodard had to make the difficult decision to take out Hall and bringing in freshman phenomena Anne Marie Taylor. Taylor would give up one run on one of two illegal pitch calls, but she quickly shut down the 'Horn batters after that debacle.

With the score now 7-4 Texas’ lead, it didn’t look good for Texas State as they headed into the bottom of the 6th. Suddenly, with runners on 2nd and 3rd, centerfielder Kristina Tello got a slap hit to the right side of the field, scoring one run. Then, another error was racked up when UT made a wild throw that landed in the home field’s dugout, automatically moving Tello to third and advancing pinch runner Brooke Baker home, decreasing the deficit to 7-6.

Taylor held the Longhorns to a scoreless 7th inning as the meat of the Bobcat line up prepared for their last at bat of the game. With the Bobcats down by one, and with two outs, hard hitter Leah Boatright strutted to the plate. On her third pitch she connected with a rise ball that hung in the zone a little too long. With two runners on, Boatright bombed a home run to left-center field, leaving the final score 9-7, Texas State. The entire Bobcat dugout erupted in jubilation, and the 650 or so maroon and gold clad fans out of 739 in attendance went crazy.

The 'Cats will hit the road to face Southeastern Louisiana this weekend before heading up to Austin to face these same Longhorns on Wednesday. KTSW will have coverage of Texas State at Texas starting live at 6:15 pm, first pitch is at 6:30. the game will be aired live on 89.9 FM, ktsw.net, and txstatebobcats.com

-Lauren Scalise, KTSW Sports Staff Writer