LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Texas State softball team (5-4) outlasted Montana (1-9) on Sunday morning at the N.M. State Softball Complex, winning by a final score of 7-5.

KEY MOMENTS
- In the bottom of the first inning, sophomore infielder ArieAnn Bell drove a double to left center to score junior infielder Bailee Carter. The RBI was the fourth of the tournament for Bell.
- Sophomore infielder Tara Oltmann sliced a bases-loaded single into the left field grass to plate a pair of runs. Junior infielder Hailey MacKay followed Oltmann's lead with an RBI single up the middle to give the Bobcats a 5-0 lead after two innings.
- After giving up four runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 5-5, Oltmann batted in her third run of the game on an RBI fielder's choice. The Bobcats would tack on another run on a steal play to bring the game to the final score of 7-5.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The top of the Bobcat lineup turned in a productive day on the offensive end. The first five batters in the lineup combined to go 7-for-15 at the plate with six runs scored.
- Both Carter and junior outfielder Christiana McDowell finished the game with two hits and three runs scored.
- Sophomore pitcher Meagan King (2-3) earned the victory in a relief role. She pitched 2.0 innings and allowed one earned run on three hits.

NOTABLES
- With another hit today, McDowell is on a seven-game hitting streak. During the streak she is hitting .609 (14-for-23) with five RBI, three extra-base hits, 12 runs scored, and six stolen bases. McDowell has registered five multi-hit games early in the 2019 season.
- Oltmann drove in a season-high three runs in the victory. She entered the Montana game with three total RBI.
- Junior pitcher Dalilah Barrera started the game and pitched the first 5.0+ innings. She concluded her day with eight strikeouts, the third consecutive appearance in which she has fanned at least seven batters when pitching 5.0 innings or more.

ON DECK
- The Bobcats will be back at home for a 5 p.m. first pitch on Feb. 20 against Sam Houston State at Bobcat Softball Stadium. Texas State will be back for more tournament play over the weekend as participants in the USF-Rawlings Invitational.

For all things Texas State softball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.