In the opener of their final home series of the season, after a tough midweek loss to Baylor, the Texas State Bobcats (31-18, SBC 12-17) defeated the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (22-27, SBC 6-13) 5-4 Friday evening at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
Junior pitcher Maddy Azua pitched her 14th complete game of the season for the Bobcats, allowing just four runs on nine hits and striking out nine in seven innings from the circle.
“I think our biggest thing right now is just playing the game one pitch at a time, one game at a time, one inning at a time,” Texas State head coach Ricci Woodard said.
The Chanticleers struck first in the top of the first with an RBI double from graduate student infielder Kaelin Cash that was followed by an RBI single from sophomore utility McKennah Metzger, taking an early 2-0 lead.
Texas State was able to cut the score in half in their at-bat when senior right fielder Keely Williams singled on the first pitch she saw and came around to score on a single by senior first baseman Aiyana Coleman.
A couple of pitching mishaps put runners in scoring position for the Bobcats in the third inning, and an error by Coastal Carolina’s second baseman, Moira Baxter, allowed Texas State to tie the ballgame at 2-2 in the third.
The Chanticleers were able to bounce back in the next inning by yet another two runs to the score, once via a sacrifice fly by freshman catcher Izzy Ramirez and the other came from third basemen Delaney Keith, who forced a bases-loaded walk.
Senior catcher Megan Kelnar led the bottom of the fourth off with an infield single as senior shortstop Sami Hood was able to even the score with a counterpunch of their own, thanks to a two-run home run in the following frame.
Texas State brought in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning when freshman left fielder Harley Vestal scored on a passed ball. With that, the Bobcats didn’t look back as Azua slammed the door shut in the final three innings, securing the victory for Texas State.
The Bobcats look to clinch the weekend series against Coastal Carolina at 2 p.m. Saturday. It will be available to stream on ESPN+.
