San Marcos, Texas – Texas State opened day one of the CenturyLink Classic with games against North Texas and Purdue. The Bobcats played hard tonight at Bobcat Softball Stadium, but it fell to North Texas, 7-5, and Purdue, 4-3, in eight innings.

Game 1

North Texas jumped out to a 2-0 lead to start the game, after Jordan Terry hit a two-run homer over the left field wall.

It didn't take Texas State too long to score a run as Haley Lemons drilled the ball to left center for an RBI-double in the bottom of the first.

The Mean Green tacked on a three-run homer in the second inning when Lesley Hirsch squeezed one just inches inside the line to extend North Texas' lead to 5-1. Two innings later, Brooke Foster hit one off the right field wall that was good enough for an RBI-double.

With Texas State's last run coming in the first inning, Courtney Harris stepped to the plate with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth. She did not disappoint as she sent one over the wall for a grand slam. The hit brought newfound confidence to the team as they fought their way back into the game after trailing by five to start the bottom of the inning.

North Texas added one run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Foster.

Texas State threatened in the next two innings, but was unable to get another run across as it fell to North Texas, 7-5.

Harris finished 2-for-4 with four RBI, while Haley Lemons finished 2-for-2 with one run scored. Rayn House (0-5) was handed the loss in the circle.

Three Mean Green players registered two hits apiece. Tori Bice improves to 3-1. Texas State will continue play in the CenturyLink Classic tomorrow March 2. The Bobcats will face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 12:30 p.m., followed by a game against North Texas at 3 p.m.

Game 2

Purdue scored two runs in the first inning to jump out to an early lead.

In the third inning, Texas State capitalized on a Purdue throwing error at first base that saw Kellie Baker score all the way from second base for the Bobcats first run of the game.

The Bobcats tied the game in the fourth inning when Anna Hernandez planted one deep on the right field line with enough power to drive in Haley Lemons for the score. The Bobcats stranded a pair of runners to end the inning, but not before registering three hits in the inning.

With neither team unable to score another run by the end of the seventh inning, the teams were forced to play extra innings. The international run rule took effect in the eighth inning.

Brooke Keel broke the tie open in the eighth when she scored on a sacrifice fly by Courtney Harris to give Texas State its first lead of the game.

Purdue tied it up in the ninth when the Andie Varsho bounced it off of Anna Hernandez' glove to bring in the third run. The Boilermakers were able to load the bases with a pair of singles to pin Texas State against the wall with no outs.

Two outs later the Boilermakers caught shortstop Jordan Masek off guard and were able to score the gamewinning run before she could recover. The loss is the seventh straight for eighth straight for Texas State as it looks to rebound in tomorrow's games.

Rayn House (0-6) suffered the loss in the circle. Seven Bobcats recorded a hit in the game.

Texas State will continue play in the CenturyLink Classic tomorrow March 2. The Bobcats will face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 12:30 p.m., followed by a game against North Texas at 3 p.m.

Saturday, March 2

10:00 a.m.         North Texas vs. Purdue

12:30 p.m.        Texas State vs. A&M-Corpus Christi

3:00 p.m.          Texas State vs. North Texas

5:30 p.m.          Purdue vs. A&M-Corpus Christi

Sunday, March 3

10:00 a.m.         Texas State vs. Purdue

12:30 p.m.        North Texas vs. A&M-Corpus Christi