TAMPA, Fla. – The Texas State softball team (7-6) earned a two-game split on Saturday at the USF Softball Stadium on day two of the USF-Rawlings Invitational. The Bobcats opened the day with a six-inning loss to Virginia Tech (11-2) by a score of 10-0 before toppling the USF Bulls (6-7), 4-3, in the night cap.

GAME 1 – VT 10, TXST 0
KEY MOMENTS
- Texas State put the leadoff batter on base in four-consecutive innings but were unable to take advantage and were held scoreless for the first time during the 2019 season.
- Virginia Tech put crooked numbers on the board in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Texas State was outhit 10-6 in the game. A game removed from walking a season-high 12 times, the Bobcats drew just one walk against Virginia Tech.
- Junior outfielder Christiana McDowell led the Bobcat offense with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate. She added a stolen base, her seventh of the season.
- Sophomore pitcher Meagan King (2-4) took the loss. She tossed 4.2 innings and allowed seven earned runs on eight hits and a walk. King struck out a pair of Hokies.

NOTABLES
- Texas State was shutout for the first time since falling 1-0 against No. 21 Louisiana in the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Championship semifinal contest.
- Virginia Tech held the Bobcats without an extra base hit for the third time this season. TXST was also held with an extra base hit against UTSA and North Dakota State during the 2019 Bobcat Classic.

GAME 2 – TXST 4, USF 3
KEY MOMENTS
- Junior infielder Hailey MacKay woke up the Bobcat offense with a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning. The two runs were the first scored by the Bobcats in either game of the day.
- Junior catcher Haleigh Davis followed the lead of MacKay with a two-run shot to center three batters later to make the score 4-0.
- After USF had gained the momentum of the game, the Bobcat defense was able to turn a double play in the bottom of the sixth to preserve the one-run lead heading into the final frame.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Bobcats were outhit 9-4 by USF, but only stranded four runners on base compared to eight for the host team.
- Freshman designated player Molly Damiani reached base twice on a hit and a walk. She was the lone Bobcat to find the base paths multiple times.
- Junior pitcher Dalilah Barrera (5-0) improved her record to a perfect 5-0 with an earned run average of 3.72. She allowed three earned runs on nine hits, while striking out two Bulls.

NOTABLES
- The Bobcats scored all four runs in the top of the fourth inning. Outside of the scoring frame, Texas State managed only two hits.

ON DECK
- The Bobcats will close out play in the USF-Rawlings Invitational with a second matchup with the USF Bulls. First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 24.

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