University Star

Courtney Harris, freshman third baseman, hit a walk-off two-run double in the tenth inning of game one, as Bobcat softball swept a double-header against rival UTSA.

Texas State carried that momentum into game two, winning 6-3 despite a late start time and four errors. The Bobcats finished their home schedule for this year with a 17-1 record and remain a perfect 10-0 in conference games.

“The whole time I was just thinking, ‘Chandler, run,’” Harris said. “I knew (the UTSA pitcher) would throw me another one outside to the gap, and I just hit it to the right side.”

Senior Chandler Hall remains the only Southland Conference pitcher to remain undefeated in league play (9-0) this season. In her final home start, Hall pitched 10 innings, tied a career-high 13 strikeouts and allowed one unearned run on seven hits.

“We talked about a couple pitches I could mix in,” Hall said. “I knew that I have to use my body a whole lot more because my arm’s going to get tired. As the game went on (I felt like) I got stronger.”

Texas State took the first game 2-1, after being no-hit the first four innings. The Bobcats recorded three hits total for the contest. Hall had two of them in addition to scoring the game-tying run.
“The way we won the first game, you know (UTSA) is kind of down,” Coach Ricci Woodard said. “We had to jump on them early if we got the chance, and we did. It’s good to see our team do what you ask them to do.”

The Bobcats posted a two-spot the second inning of the last game as Jordan Masek, sophomore center fielder, plated both runs with a double. Texas State scored again the fifth inning, capitalizing on UTSA errors and a two-run double by Allison Snow, senior outfielder.

“The thing you worry about is the game getting sloppier, and it did,” Woodard said. “When you play a game with six errors in it you know it’s getting late into the night, especially with kids who aren’t used to playing double headers any more.” 

Anne Marie Taylor, junior pitcher, started game two and allowed three runs (two unearned) on five hits while striking out five. The Bobcats had four errors in the contest, including two from Harris, who started at first base.

Texas State recorded 10 hits in game two after landing just three the first contest. Woodard and Hall both said the walk-off win carried offensive momentum into the second game.

“It was a great night,” Hall said. “I thought the seniors did a great job. That first pitcher was keeping us off balance pretty well. The second one, we just attacked them better.”

The Bobcats have a chance to clinch the regular season championship with a win Saturday against Southeastern Louisiana and a loss by Sam Houston State. The Bobcats play SHSU, which trails Texas State by two games in the conference standings, on the road for the last series of the season.