University Star

Texas State softball celebrated its annual Strikeout Cancer day by sweeping a double-header against Houston Baptist University on Wednesday.

Haley Lemons, junior first baseman, slides into home April 18 against Houston Baptist University at Bobcat Softball Field. The Bobcats defeated the Huskies 3-0.

The Bobcats won 6-0 and 3-0, raising pledges for each run scored. The squad is now 13-1 at home and 27-15 overall.

“We went all out,” said Selena Hernandez, freshman shortstop. “People dyed their hair — I did. We made our (pink) bows and headbands, and we took a lot of pictures. It was really fun.”

Hernandez led the Bobcats’ offensive charge, reaching base four times in six tries and picking up two RBI in each game. She also scored a run and stole a base in the second contest.

“Anytime you get a freshman producing in April, you’re ahead of the game,” Coach Ricci Woodard said. “Usually, with us, it only takes one or two people to get going and then we seem to roll a little bit better.”

Texas State rolled through four scoreless innings the first game before plating a run in the fifth. The team then posted a five-spot in the sixth inning to take a 6-0 victory.

“It’s always good to get the sweep,” Woodard said. “Especially on days like this where it’s a mid-week game, and a non-conference one.”

Shelby Carnline, junior third baseman, hit a two-out, two-strike RBI single to plate Anna Hernandez, junior second baseman, who led off the inning with a double.

The runs then poured in for the Bobcats as Selena Hernandez scored Coralee Ramirez and Jordan Masek with a single, and then came around to score on an error. Houston Baptist had two errors in the sixth as Texas State tallied six hits and a stolen base.

Chandler Hall, senior pitcher, tossed a two-hit complete game shutout, striking out 11 batters. She also hit a double in the fourth inning.

“Chandler Hall is usually locked in, so we don’t have to worry about that,” Woodard said. “She’s throwing the ball well. With her on the mound, it’s just nice to get some offense going behind her.”

Anne Marie Taylor, junior pitcher, started the second game for Texas State and also went the distance, allowing five base runners with five strikeouts. Taylor allowed seven runs in her last start, and Woodard said it was good to see her return to form.

“All we did was work on her hitting her spots this week,” she said. “I thought she did a good job of getting herself back on track.”

Selena Hernandez was again the offensive star for the Bobcats, recording two RBI in two at bats. Anna Hernandez hit two doubles in three trips to the plate, and was called out in the third inning for leaving third base too soon on an attempted sacrifice fly.

“I’ve been trying to focus on the little things, and that’s what I did,” Selena Hernandez said. “They weren’t really big hits, but it got the runs. It was just finding the pitch I was looking for.”

Next up for the Bobcats is McNeese State, which trails the Bobcats by two games in the conference standings. The Cowgirls have the same number of overall wins as Texas State (25), and the team knows this matchup is a big one.

“(The Houston Baptist series) is a momentum change going into McNeese, because they’re our biggest competition this year,” Selena Hernandez said. “We have to beat them.”