Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SAN MARCOS, Texas – In her first game in a Bobcat uniform, freshman Kimberlin Naivar helped propel the Texas State softball team to a 4-3 victory over Stephen F. Austin in game one of the CenturyLink Classic. The Bobcats then capped the day by falling 7-2 to the Ball State Cardinals, the 2013 MAC Regular Season Champions. One of the highlights in the first game was a homerun in the top of the second in her first career-at-bat by Naivar.

The Bobcats had many opportunities to start the season opener, putting three runners on base by walks in the first inning. The Lady Jacks pitching staff, however, struck out two of the final three Bobcat batters to get out of the inning.

After Stephen F. Austin got on the board in the first inning, Naivar answered the call with a solo shot to right center field, tying the game up at 1-1.

With back-to-back innings of scoreless action by the Lady Jacks, Texas State was able to capitalize on a pair of doubles by Kendall Wiley and Courtney Harris in the top of the fourth. With one out, freshman Lexi Fryar reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on an error, allowing Naivar, who walked earlier in the inning, to go to third and Harris and Wiley to go home. Kelli Baker then added to the Texas State total by flying out to left field, scoring Naivar.

It was not until the bottom of the seventh when Stephen F. Austin attempted to stab at the Bobcat lead. Down 4-1, Stephen F. Austin started the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to come within two. With two outs and a single later, the Bobcats walked three straight to bring in the third and final run for the Lady Jacks. Freshman Kaylee Garner then recorded the first save of her career, striking out the final Lady Jack batter of the afternoon.

Rayn House led the Bobcats on the mound, putting in six innings of work with six strikeouts and two walks. Senior Timishia North had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base.

In game two, Texas State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first against the Cardinals after Wiley hit a single to right field, scoring Baker who put herself on with a single to lead off.

The score remained 1-0 until the top of the fourth when a single and a wild pitch provided Ball State with a runner in scoring position. The Cardinals then singled through the right side, scoring their runner on second.

Ball State continued to tack on the runs in the top of the fifth, hitting a pair of home runs to jump out to a 6-1 lead.

The Bobcats answered with a run in the bottom half of the fifth when Baker tripled to right center, scoring Jordan Masek who walked earlier in the inning.

Already up 6-2 over Texas State, the Cardinals added another home run to its total in the top of the seventh, scoring the final run of the game. Texas State put a pair of runners on in the bottom of the seventh, but it proved to not be enough as the Cardinal defense shut down the final two batters.

Garner earned the loss, putting in 4.2 innings of work with four strikeouts. Ashley Wright came in relief for Garner, striking out one in 2.1 innings on the mound.

Baker had a perfect 4-for-4 showing in the second game of the afternoon, recording her first RBI of the season while scoring one of the two Bobcat runs.

Texas State continues day two of the CenturyLink Classic by taking on Southern Illinois at 1 p.m. and wrapping up the day against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 5 p.m. Live stats will be made available at txstatebobcats.com.