SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team continues its 2019 fall schedule on Friday night when the Bobcats host St. Mary's at the Bobcat Softball Stadium. The contest is Texas State's second home game this fall after opening its fall campaign with a 13-1 victory over Texas A&M International on Oct. 5. The Bobcats also swept a doubleheader against Mississippi State and Blinn College on Oct. 12 at Scrapyard Stadium in Conroe, Texas.
 
"It's still early, but we feel that we are headed in the right direction in all areas," said Texas State head coach Ricki Woodard. "The players are working hard to get better every day, and I feel they have done a good job of staying in the moment and controlling both sides of the game. I am looking forward to watching this team continue to get better every game."
 
Game 1-
Texas State 13, Texas A&M International 1 (10 innings)
Bobcat Softball Stadium
San Marcos, Texas
Cassie Valdez, Tori McCann, and Brooke Blackwell combined for nine strikeouts and surrendered just one run in 10 innings. Valdez, a sophomore from Brownsville, started the game, struck out two hitters, and allowed only one hit in four innings.
 
A freshman from Round Rock, McCann pitched the next four innings and recorded five strikeouts, while giving up three hits and the lone run. Blackwell, a sophomore transfer from Texas Tech, pitched the final two frames and allowed a hit while striking out two.
 
Offensively, junior infielder ArieAnn Bell led the Bobcats as she drove in four runs with a three-run homer and a double. Senior infielder Hailey MacKay hit a pair of doubles to drive in two runs and had a walk.
 
Sophomores Kaylee Lind, Samara Lagway, and Molly Damiani drove in one run each for the Bobcats. Lagway had a pair of doubles to go with her RBI, while Lind added another double. Damiani finished the game with two hits in her two appearances at the plate.
 
Game 2-
Texas State 10, Blinn College 2 (seven innings)
Scrapyard Stadium
Conroe, Texas
Valdez, McCann, and Blackwell turned in another strong outing when they combined for six strikeouts while surrendering four hits and two runs against the Buccaneers. Blackwell gave up a hit in three innings with three strikeouts and a walk. Valdez also pitched three innings, gave up both runs, allowed three hits, and struck out one. McCann also had two strikeouts in her lone inning.
 
Offensively, freshman infielder Sara Vanderford drove in three runs with a home run and two sacrifice flies. ArieAnn Bell also plated three runs with a pair of hits in her four at-bats. Hailey MacKay added two RBI and three hits, while Eliza Eberhard drove in another run. Eberhard finished the game going 2-for-2 at the plate with two doubles and a walk. Samara Lagway was 2-for-3, and Bailee Carter reached base four times, all on walks in five trips to the plate.
 
GAME 3
Texas State 6, Mississippi State 3 (6 innings)
Scrapyard Stadium
Conroe, Texas
Texas State swept the doubleheader when the Bobcats beat Mississippi State, 6-3, in six innings in Conroe.
 
Junior pitcher Meagan King made her fall debut and pitched four innings against the Bulldogs. King gave up three runs and six hits while striking out one. Tori McCann also pitched a scoreless inning, while not giving up any hits or walks.
 
Offensively, junior infielder Eliza Eberhard scored a pair of runs and finished the game 2-for-2 at the plate with a couple of walks. Sara Vanderford hit an RBI double to tie the score after the Bulldogs had jumped out to an early lead.
 
ArieAnn Bell drove in two runs with a home run and RBI triple.  Junior infielder Tara Oltman also hit a home run in three plate appearances, and Samara Lagway had an RBI single and a walk.