Feb. 9, 2007

Box Score

SAN MARCOS -

Feb. 9, 2007

SAN MARCOS - The Bobcat softball team opened its 2007 season on a sour note, going 0-2 on the first day of the CenturyTel Softball Classic hosted by Texas State. The `Cats dropped a 9-1 decision in five innings to No. 7 Alabama before losing to UTSA 3-2 in the fourth and final game of the day.

Alex Newton and Ryan Kos each finished the day with two hits, and Newton added two of Texas State's three RBIs on the day by driving in a run in each game.

Junior transfer Ragan Blake lost her debut in a Bobcat uniform as the starter against Alabama, while Sarah Lancour pitched the nightcap.

Below is a recap for all four games from day one of the CenturyTel Bobcat Classic, which continues Saturday, Feb. 10, with another four game slate. Check www.txstatebobcats.com's softball page to follow all the weekend's action.

Game 1
Oklahoma State 5, UTSA 3

Oklahoma State scored in four straight innings to overcome an early 3-1 deficit and win its 2007 opener in a game that featured six errors between the teams.

Shanel Scott went 3-for-3 for the Cowgirls and scored three times while Jessica Hoppock allowed three unearned runs and struck out eight for the win.

Amanda Nikolenko went the distance for the Roadrunners, allowing two earned runs on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts.

Aimee Murray paced the UTSA offense, going 1-for-1 with two RBIs on a double and sac fly.

Game 2
No. 7 Alabama 13, Oklahoma State 0

Mandy Burford drove in a career-high six RBIs, and a 6-run second inning helped propel the Crimson Tide to a 13-0 five inning win over Oklahoma State to conclude the morning session of games.

Burford hit a 3-run home run in the top of the fourth to cap a 4-run inning before adding a 2-run single in the fifth. She also had an RBI groundout in the second and finished the game 3-for-4.

Chrissy Owens pitched four shutout innings and had four strikeouts to earn her first win of the season while Chelsey Barclay went 4.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits with four walks.

Game 3
No. 7 Alabama 9, Texas State 1

Alabama finished the first day undefeated with two shortened games by jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning on its way to defeating host Texas State 9-1 in five.

Jordan Praytor went 3-for-4 with a run and four RBIs, capped off by a bases-loaded double that scored three in the third inning. Lauren Parker also had three RBIs on a bases-loaded triple in the opening inning.

Blair Potter allowed one run on two hits to earn the win while Texas State's Ragan Blake took the loss, allowing five earned runs on seven hits while walking five and striking out three.

Ryan Kos scored the Bobcats' only run in the top of the fifth on an Alex Newton single and finished 1-for-1 with a double and a walk.

Game 4
UTSA 3, Texas State 2

Texas State left 12 runners on base, including nine in scoring position, as UTSA held on for a 3-2 win in a battle of two Southland Conference teams.

After each team scored in the second, the Bobcats took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth when Chelsea Giroux walked with the bases loaded, but the `Cats left the bags full and missed an opportunity to add to their lead.

UTSA would capitalize by taking the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Jessica Rogers drove in two on a single to left.

Nikolenko then came on to pitch the final two innings for the save, and Janeille Nickels escaped multiple jams to earn the win. Nickels allowed five hits and six walks in five innings but only one earned run.