Fifth Inning Home Run Leads Softball Over UTA

Texas State softball won the rubber game in its opening conference
series against the University of Texas - Arlington after a big fifth
inning capped an 8-2 victory in San Marcos on Wednesday. Junior
designated player McKenzie Baack capped the scoring with a long three-
run homer to right field in the home half of the fifth, her first long-
ball of the season.

The offense didn't come around until the bottom of the second when
Bobcat right fielder Leah Boatright singled off the glove of a diving
Erica LeFlore at third. Boatright easily stole second and came home
when Baack blooped a single into shallow right field.

Starting pitcher Chandler Hall earned her fourth win of 2010 without
being as sharp on the circle as Bobcat fans are used to seeing.
Through the first three innings the right hander struck out five Lady
Mavericks, but her command was not as consistent as she's been before.
As a freshman, Hall was head coach Ricci Woodard's go-to player and a
valuable piece of the 2009 season -- Hall was the SLC Tournament MVP
that year. But she underwent offseason surgery on her left knee and
wore a knee brace during yesterday's game, possibly explaining that
sub-.500 record. After two conferences on the circle with head coach
Ricci Woodard, she got a breather and was pulled after four innings of
work. Hall's record is closer to the positive, now at 4-5.

In the top of the third, the Lady Mavs responded with a single, a
walk and a passed ball to load the bases. Visiting catcher Samantha
Chumchal was out on a sac fly to tie the game at 1-1, but Hall averted
more damage by striking out the next hitter for her sixth K of the day.

Fortune changed for Texas State in the third as the Bobcats scored
two more runs to widen the gap. Center fielder Kristina Tello blooped
an "excuse-me" single into shallow right to lead off and second
baseman Anna Hernandez followed suit. Both runners advanced on a
sacrifice bunt by Hall and first baseman Haley Lemons kept the ball on
the ground in the infield in the next at bat. Tello took off for the
plate on the play and was thrown out as Hernandez stayed at third
behind her, forcing Tello to try to sneak in a run. But with two outs,
Lemons' smart base running took her to second on the play and set up
the ensuing two-run RBI single by third baseman Jenna Emery.

Anne Marie Taylor relieved Hall in the fifth, striking out UTA
slugger Cara Hulme to start. Taylor stumbled from there, surrendering
three hits and giving up a run, but despite a high pitch count, the
freshman hurler stranded two runners in the inning to get out of the
jam. With the win, Taylor earns her first save of the season.

A power-packed fifth inning sealed the game for Texas State, sparked
by a single to right by Hernandez. Hall layed down a bunt and reached
first on the errant throw, moving to third after an RBI knock by
Lemons in the next at bat. Emery would do the same, and with two
runners on, McKenzie Baack stepped in and sent one screaming over the
right field wall for her first home run on the year. The five run
inning capped the scoring for the day and Taylor came out well rested
to finish the last two innings, only allowing two more hits and no runs.

With the win, Texas State's Southland Conference record is 2-1 and
5-11 overall, while UT-Arlington falls to 1-2 in the Southland and
10-8 for the season.

The Bobcats head to the field against Sam Houston State in a Saturday
double header on Mar. 6. The Lady Bearkats come to town riding a three
game losing streak. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 1:00
p.m. and listen for live play-by-play and analysis on 89.9 FM KTSW San
Marcos and KTSW.net. Pre-game programming begins at 12:45 p.m.

-Mason Robinson, KTSW Sports Staff Writer