Softball | 11/2/2017 8:32:00 PM
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team lost a hard-fought fall ball contest against the Scrap Yard Dawgs of the National Pro Fastpitch League, 4-2 on Thursday evening at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
The Bobcat offense was held down early in the game by Lauren Haeger, who pitched four strong innings for the Dawgs, allowing just one unearned run on two hits. Haeger walked two batters while striking out four Bobcats.
Jaclyn Molenaar was the first Bobcat to reach base via a hit. She singled back up the middle for in the bottom of the third, but was stranded on base.
Jaelyn Young singled to left field in the bottom of the fourth and was briefly replaced by pinch runner, Christiana McDowell. The next batter, Kourtney Pock reached on an error by the third baseman, giving the Bobcats runners on first and third with only one away. ArieAnn Bell bounced a grounder to short and reached on a fielder's choice. Pock was forced out at second but not before McDowell crossed home plate. Bell's RBI cut the Dawgs' lead to 3-1.
The offense was right back at it in the fifth. Mari Cranek reached on a well-placed bunt down the third baseline. Molenaar walked on four consecutive pitches to give the Bobcats a pair of runners in the inning. Both runners advanced on a passed ball. Ariel Ortiz was able to score Cranek following a sacrifice fly to left field.
Randi Rupp received the starting nod for tonight's game. She yielded three hits in first frame, including a pair of RBI doubles. After settling in, she was able to strike out five batters without issuing a walk. On the night she pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up four runs on four hits.
Meagan King came on in relief in the top of the fifth innings. The right-handed freshman was stout allowing just one hit and one walk over the last 2 2/3 innings of the ballgame. King was also able to strike out one batter.
The Bobcats will jump back into the fall schedule on Nov. 4 with a pair of games at the UTSA Round Robin. TXST will square off with UTSA at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning and will follow with a 12:30 p.m. game against Texas A&M – Kingsville. The final game of the fall schedule will be played on Nov. 7 against McLennan Community College.
