Game 1: TXST 11, Troy 7
After adding nine unanswered runs to the scoreboard, the Texas State Bobcats (26-16, 7-6 SBC) defeated the Troy Trojans (25-15, 5-8 SBC) in a comeback win Friday night at Troy Softball Complex in Troy, Ala.
The Trojans took an early lead over the Bobcats after adding five runs to the board in the first two innings.
The Bobcats looked to make a dent in the Trojans 5-0 lead in the fourth. Senior infielder Aiyana Coleman scored on a single from senior outfielder Keely Williams, adding the first run for the Bobcats to the board. A sacrifice fly from senior outfielder Sydney Harvey followed this, allowing junior infielder Kate Bubela to add another run to the board.
A home run by junior infielder Makaley Boswell gave the Trojans two more runs during the fourth inning.
In the top of the fifth, Coleman hit her 11th home run of the season, bringing the Bobcats to five runs for the evening.
The maroon and gold took this momentum into the sixth, scoring four runs to take a 9-7 lead over the Trojans. Both redshirt freshman outfielder Harley Vestal and senior catcher Karmyn Bass scored on a single by Bubela, advancing Coleman to second. Senior infielder Sami Hood later hit a double, bringing home both Bubela and Coleman.
To extend the Bobcats’ lead, Bass hit her first homer of the season, taking Harvey back to home plate. After two scoreless innings, the Trojans looked to tighten up the lead, but were left scoreless in the seventh after a strikeout from junior pitcher Madison Azua to end the game.
Game 2: TXST 5, Troy 0
After the previous night’s big comeback victory, the pitching stabilized as the Texas State Bobcats (27-16, 8-6 SBC) took the weekend series against the Troy Trojans (25-16, 5-9 SBC) Saturday afternoon at the Troy Softball Complex in Troy, Ala.
The Bobcats’ pitching came through once again as senior Emma Strood essentially had a repeat performance from her previous game this last Tuesday against UTSA, earning her fifth victory in an effort that had her tossing a complete game shutout on four hits while accumulating eight strikeouts.
Despite the commanding final score, the game was much closer than it seemed. Strood and Trojans senior pitcher Esmee Ames dueled each other for a majority of the game, with each pitching a shutout softball by the end of the fifth inning.
Texas State finally broke through with the bases loaded as senior third basemen Aiyana Coleman delivered a two-out, bases-clearing RBI single that gave the Bobcats a 3-0 lead in the top of the sixth.
After Troy took out Ames in hopes of sophomore Mya Hoyt preventing any more damage, Texas State did so otherwise and further extended their lead by taking advantage of another two-out bases loaded situation, this time via the bat of junior second basemen Kat Zarate, who smacked a two-RBI double into left field to make it 5-0.
While the Trojans threatened in the final frame, hitting two singles and reaching third base for the first time all game, Strood kept the shutout intact and struck out the remaining two batters, giving Texas State its fourth consecutive win.
Since the beginning of April, the Bobcats have been on a roll, posting a record of 5-1 as the final full month of the regular season prepares to wind down with Texas State seeking to move up in the Sun Belt standings.
Game 3: TXST 2, Troy 1
The Texas State Bobcats (28-16, 9-6 SBC) completed the series sweep of the Troy Trojans (25-17, 5-10 SBC) with a 2-1 victory Sunday afternoon at the Troy Softball Complex in Troy, Ala.
The Bobcats were propelled by a strong pitching day overall, where they recorded eight strikeouts while only allowing one run. Junior pitcher Madison Azua started in the circle for the Bobcats, recording four strikeouts while only allowing one run in four innings.
After a quiet first inning for the Bobcats, Troy came out swinging, recording two singles and a walk to load the bases. But following a mound visit, Azua would clean things up with two strikeouts and a groundout to keep Troy scoreless going into the second inning.
Senior infielder Sami Hood would get the Bobcats on the board with a solo home run to open the third inning. Despite the promising start and getting into scoring position following two walks and an error, the Bobcat bats fizzled out to finish the inning, unable to add to their lead.
The Trojans would take no time to respond with a run of their own, as sophomore utility player Mya Holt hit an RBI single off a bunt to tie the game up at one apiece.
The Bobcats stayed hot in the fourth, getting into scoring position following a walk and a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore outfielder Melania Reeves would ultimately score for Texas State off a wild pitch to bring the score to 2-1 Bobcats.
Going into the fifth inning, Azua was pulled for senior pitcher Emma Strood, who would close out the game for the Bobcats in dominant fashion.
In three innings pitched, Strood recorded four strikeouts and held the Trojans scoreless, while only surrendering two total hits to close out the game.
Despite Strood’s strong pitching in the fifth and sixth innings, the Bobcats offense was unable to capitalize, getting three hits and no runs to finish the game, giving Troy a chance to tie or walk off the game at the bottom of the seventh
While the Trojans put up a fight at the bottom of the seventh, getting a player on base, it was not enough as Strood finished Troy off with a clutch strikeout to secure the Texas State victory.
The series sweep over Troy moves the Bobcats to 9-6 in conference play, comfortably putting them in fifth in the Sun Belt Conference standings.
Texas State will return home to Bobcat Softball Stadium against last season’s national champion runner-up, the Texas Tech Red Raiders, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
