Bobcats Sweep the Bearkats, Nab Fifth Straight Win

The Texas State Softball team was in action again on Sunday, as they finished up their series with the Bearkats of Sam Houston State. The Bobcats had taken the first two games on Saturday and were looking for a sweep of their Southland Conference foe. It started early with the Bobcats scoring in the first, and with Chandler Hall on in the pitchers circle, there was no stopping Texas State today in a 9-1 run-rule victory in 6 innings.

The Bearkats were shut down the entire game, with only a few runners reaching base. The only run scored on Hall was a homerun for Sam Houston State. It was on a drop-ball pitch, "that simply didn't drop, and thats what hitters are supposed to do to those" said Coach Woodard after the game.

Anna Hernandez was the offense supplier for the Bobcats on Sunday as she racked in 4RBIs and 2 Homeruns, one to end the game in the 6th inning. The three run blast sent everyone home happy as it gave Texas State an 8 run lead and the run-rule victory. Anna also displayed her range at second base as she had a play in the 3rd inning where she had to dive to her left and throw out a speedy Bearkat runner.

The Bobcats improve their overall record to 8-11, 5-1 in the SLC. The Bearkats loss drops them to 4-14, 0-6 in the SLC.

Hernandez and Chandler Hall posted back-to-back singles to give Texas State runners on first and second. After a passed ball, Hernandez advanced to third to put Texas State in scoring position. An RBI single by Haley Lemons, advanced Hernandez home and Hall to second. A ground out pushed Hall and Lemons a base each, before Hall scored at the plate on a wild pitch. Jenna Emery batted next, reaching first base on an error by the shortstop, which also saw Lemons score a run. Leah Boatright added to the Bobcats hitting spree with a double to left center, advancing Emery home and giving Texas State four runs on four hits in the first.

SHSU would not be held scoreless as Erin Burford hit a solo home run to left field to give the Bearkats their second hit and only run of the game.

Chandler Hall picked up her sixth win of the season after 5.1 innings in the circle. Hall struck out six batters, allowing just two hits and one run in the game. Texas State had three batters go 2-for-3 from the plate, but Hernandez went 3-for-4 with two homers, three runs and four RBI. It was Hernandez that put the nail in the coffin for Sam Houston State, as she hit a three-run rocket over the Bobcat bullpen in left field and onto the railroad tracks in the 6th inning. That three-RBI home run was enough for Texas State to get the 8-run lead necessary to invoke the NCAA softball run rule that takes effect after 5 innings of play.

Morgan Mikulin took the loss for SHSU after 5.2 innings on the mound. Mikulin fanned six batters, but allowed 11 hits and seven earned runs on the day.

Texas State returns to Bobcat Field on Wednesday, March 10 at 6:00 pm, when it hosts Baylor in non-conference play. Pregame coverage will air live at 5:45 pm on 89.9 KTSW, ktsw.net and txstatebobcats.com.

-Will McGinnis, KTSW Sports Staff Writer