SAN MARCOS, Texas -- The Texas State softball team started the 2016 season on the right foot as it picked up a pair of victories against Abilene Christian (13-1) and Oklahoma State (3-1) Friday afternoon at the CenturyLink Classic. Against the Cowgirls, Bianca Prado hit her first career walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
Texas State goes into day two of the CenturyLink Classic with a perfect 2-0 record.
 
Game 1 – Abilene Christian
In her first Texas State at bat in the top of the first inning, junior third baseman Corrina Liscano launched the first home run of the season to give Texas State an early 3-0 lead. Prado and Kendall Wiley made their way to the base paths prior to Liscano's three-run shot with a single through the left side and a double.
 
Texas State continued to tack on the runs in the top half of the second inning. After Taylor Webb and Sara Rupp walked to start the inning, the Bobcats put together four hits to score five runs against the Wildcats. Prado and Ariel Ortiz each recorded doubles in the inning for a combined four RBIs.
 
Through the first two innings of play, sophomore pitcher Randi Rupp tallied four strikeouts against the Wildcats.
 
After a scoreless third, Texas State put up five more in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Texas State loaded the bases before drawing three walks with a double by Webb mixed in to ultimately score five runs. A fly out to centerfield ended the inning for the 'Cats with three runners left on.
 
The lone Abilene Christian run came off of a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning.
 
Another Texas State newcomer, Paige Williams, put in two innings of work for Texas State and struck out five. Rupp ended the game with five K's herself to bring the Bobcat total up to 10 strikeouts for the game.
 
Kelli Baker, Prado, and Liscano combined for seven of the team's 10 hits in the game. Liscano finished game one with four RBIs and a pair of runs scored.
 
Game 2 – Oklahoma State
With two scoreless innings to start the contest, Big 12 foe Oklahoma State put the first run on the board in the top of the third inning. The Cowgirls started the inning off with a single down the left field by Maddi Holcomb who ultimately stole second on the next at bat. A double to center by Tiffany Mikkelson scored Holcomb just two batters later.
 
The Bobcats answered in their bottom half of the inning. Baker once again led the inning off with a single and quickly made her way to second on a pass ball. A single through the left side by Ortiz moved Baker to third and on a grounder to second by Wiley, Baker scored to tie the game up at 1-1.
 
Through six innings, the Bobcats had tallied seven hits but were unable to bring anymore home to take an advantage over the Cowgirls.
 
With Kelli Baker on first after an infield single to the shortstop, Prado launched her first home run of the season to put Texas State on top, 3-1. The victory against the Cowgirls is just the second in school history and first at the Bobcat Softball Stadium.
 
Who Stood Out:
Junior college transfer Corrina Liscano finished the day with three hits, a team-high four RBIs, and a 1.000 slugging percentage … her first Texas State home run came in her first at bat. Taylor Webb went 3-for-4 for the day with a double, two walks, and a run scored … Kelli Baker went 5-for-8 for the Bobcats with five total bases … Bianca Prado finished the day with four hits, a team-high four RBIs, and eight total bases … Randi Rupp struck out 14 and held her opponents to a .114 batting average in 10.0 innings pitched … Williams, in her Texas State debut, struck out five in 2.0 innings pitched … as a team, the Bobcats hit .352 while holding their opponents to just a .119 batting average.
 
Quotable:
"I couldn't haven't been more proud of the group I had today coming out on opening day," said head coach Ricci Woodard.
 
Up Next:
The Bobcats take to the field early tomorrow morning with a doubleheader starting at 10 a.m. The 'Cats will take on DePaul in the first game of the day before playing host to Northwestern State at 12:30 p.m. Live stats, live audio, and live video will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com.