Feb. 11, 2009

Box Score

AUSTIN, Texas- Willpower and drive kept the Texas State softball team alive in the top of the seventh as they scored six runs in the inning to rally to a 9-6 win over I-35 rival Texas Longhorns Wednesday night at McCombs Field. Allyce Rother went 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI to help the Bobcats to their second straight win on the road.

"I told them to stay focused and work at it and you can win a ball game right here, and that's exactly what we asked them to do," said Head coach Ricci Woodard. The Bobcats fell behind early in the first when Texas' Nadia Taylor hit a base hit up the middle to drive in two runs.

Texas State found themselves in scoring position after two walks and a fielder's choice loaded the bases and an RBI from Megan Parten sent McKenzie Baack home to put the Bobcats on the board.

The Longhorns added two to its score after Desiree Williams knocked a two-run single up the middle to take a 4-1 lead.

But with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, Texas pitcher Erin Tresselt walked her third straight batter to send Rother home for the Bobcats. Rother was due after sending Jenna Emery home on a deep double into left field.

Feeling the Bobcats on its heels, the Longhorns tallied two runs of its own in the bottom of the sixth on just two hits.

Taking advantage of its last chance at a comeback, a throwing error by Tresselt in the top of the seventh, followed by two walks brought Texas State within one with the bases loaded and one out. Texas brought on its third pitcher of the night, but Brittany Barnhill walked in the tying run to bring the game to six-all.

On the next play Kristina Tello hit a double to right center that sent Rother and Ryan Kos sprinting home and Alex Newton followed with a deep ball to center field and grabbed an RBI after Duncan crossed the plate.

"I thought that we did a good job of working at our pitch counts while at the plate and making them come to us with the pitches that we wanted to attack," added Woodard. "I think that was the key to our success.

After spending 28 minutes at the plate, Texas finally had its chance at the plate, but after walking the lead-off batter, the Bobcats recorded three-straight out to close out the game.

The Bobcats recorded seven hits, driving in nine runs and eight RBIs. "The way we played in this game helped us to prepare for this coming weekend when we head to the Houston tournament," said Woodard.

Texas State will hit the road on Friday, Feb. 13 when they begin play in the UH Crown Plaza Classic. The Bobcats will first play Oklahoma at 3p.m. on Friday and then in the night cap they will take on Indiana at 7p.m. They will begin Saturday with a 9:00 a.m. start against Oklahoma State and then play North Carolina right after with an approximate start time of 11:00 a.m. The Bobcats will end play in the tournament when they face UH Crowne Plaza host Houston at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.