The 2009 Texas State cross country team is off and running, literally.

The runners trained during the summer months in order for the teams to do well at the Southland Conference Championship in October.

The Bobcats return to the trails after the women’s third-place finish in the conference and 11th at the regional meet. The men finished seventh in conference.

The teams kick off the season Sept. 5 when they host the Texas State Invitational. The Bobcats will travel to College Station, San Antonio and Stillwater, Okla., before the SLC Championship.

The Texas State women’s basketball team had a strong 2008 to 2009 season despite not advancing to the Southland Conference Tournament.

Texas State ended their season March 8th losing a must-win game against the Sam Houston State Bearkats 88-83. Their season record was 12-16 overall and 6-10 in conference play.

The season was the first time in 19 years the Bobcats had not advanced to the conference’s postseason action.

Alex Newton, senior shortstop, led the Texas State softball team to the Southland Conference regular season championship Sunday with her first-inning home run against Stephen F. Austin.

The Bobcats lost the first game 2-0, but came back to win the last two games of the series 3-2 and 1-0, respectively.

Jenna Emery, sophomore third baseman, caught a hard-hit ball that came right to her, then tagged the runner out at third in the first inning.

Ryan Kos, senior second baseman, was the first Bobcat to get on base, drawing a walk in the bottom of the second inning.

The Texas State softball team began its three-game series against the Northwestern State Demons after a one-day rain delay.

The delay did not hamper the Bobcats as they put up 20 runs in the series while shutting out the Demons, thanks to Chandler Hall, freshman pitcher, and Katie Garnett, senior pitcher.

Alex Newton, senior shortstop, was a contributor against the Demons, hitting three home runs.

The Texas State softball team took a break from conference play Wednesday to face the Texas-El Paso Miners in the Bobcats’ fourth consecutive home game.

UTEP scored two runs off a third inning homer to defeat Texas State 2-0.

UTEP went three up, three down in the first inning having two fly outs and a strikeout with Ryan Kos, senior second baseman, catching the ball in the outfield for the first out.

Chandler Hall, freshman pitcher, struck out Stacie Townsend, UTEP pitcher, swinging to record the third out of the first inning.

Underclassmen contributed in the three-game sweep against Central Arkansas this weekend.

Leah Boatright, junior first baseman, scored the first run for the Bobcats in Saturday’s opening game after Emery doubled to left field in the second inning.

The Bobcats hit two home runs in the bottom of the fourth from Jenna Emery, sophomore utility, and Chandler Hall, freshman pitcher, scoring three runs, putting Texas State at 4-0.

Central Arkansas made a comeback effort in the fifth inning scoring two runs off a single.

One missed free throw by Sam Houston State and an offensive rebound by Ray Alexander, SHSU guard, prevented the Texas State women’s basketball team from winning its last home game of the season Sunday.

The Bobcats trailed Sam Houston State 85-81 with 14 seconds remaining after the free throw from Khamra Echols, SHSU guard. Echols missed the second, which was rebounded by Alexander.

Alexander was fouled immediately by Aimee Hilburn, junior forward, who gained her fifth personal foul with 13 seconds remaining.

The Texas State women’s basketball team had its final lead against Northwestern State at 58-56 with five minutes remaining. Northwestern State’s 3-point and free throw shooting were too much for the Bobcats to overcome.

“I thought they just shot the ball extremely well, and we were unfortunate and got some key match ups for us (to get into) foul trouble situations late,” said Coach Suzanne Fox about the major turning points in the game.

The Texas State women’s basketball team fell to the Lady Demons 80-72.

The final buzzer sounded as Texas State defeated Stephen F. Austin, the No. 1 team in the east division of the Southland Conference, for their sixth win in conference.

The Bobcats took the floor against the Lumberjacks, winning 73-60.

“We really worked on defense, on rebounding, then on offense sharing the basketball and trying to get the best shot,” said Coach Suzanne Fox.

The Lumberjacks took the early lead at 2-0 with 19:23 remaining in the first half after two free throws from Amina Sawyer, SFA forward.

The Texas State women’s basketball team was victorious in Saturday’s contest against Nicholls State after setting a new record of 52 combined turnovers.

The Bobcats defeated the Lady Colonels 70-58.

Texas State is 11-13 in the season and 5-7 in Southland Conference play. Nicholls State fell to 1-22 overall and 1-11 in SLC play.

The Bobcats closed out the first half with a 10-2 run. However, the Colonels outscored Texas State 43-36 in the second half.