SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team opens the 2019 season as hosts of the Bobcat Classic. The tournament will begin with a 5 p.m. first pitch on Feb. 7 with a clash against I-35 rival UTSA at Bobcat Softball Stadium. Abilene Christian, Colorado State and North Dakota State round out the tournament field.

The Bobcats enter the season off an historic 2018 campaign. TXST won both the Sun Belt regular season and tournament titles for the first time in program history. Head coach Ricci Woodard was named the coach of the year in the conference, while Randi Rupp collected her second pitcher of the year accolade and piled up school records in career wins (110), career strikeouts (1,270), career appearances (187) and career innings pitched (1,057.1). Texas State ended the season win the NCAA Los Angeles Regional, the program's ninth NCAA appearance and third in as many seasons.

The program will be collecting donations for the memorial fund honoring Geri Ann Glasco, daughter of Louisiana softball head coach Gerry Glasco. The fund is set up through the Natasha Watley Foundation and will help and support to young women who are entering the coaching field, as Geri Ann was. Throughout the weekend, the Texas State athletic department will pass around a bucket during the fourth inning of every game.

GAME INFORMATION – UTSA
5 p.m. CST | Bobcat Softball Season
WATCH: txstatebobcats.com/watch/
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GAME INFORMATION – NORTH DAKOTA STATE
1:15 p.m. CST | Bobcat Softball Season
WATCH: txstatebobcats.com/watch/
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GAME INFORMATION – COLORADO STATE
3:30 p.m. CST | Bobcat Softball Season
WATCH: txstatebobcats.com/watch/
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GAME INFORMATION – ABILENE CHRISTIAN
10 a.m. CST | Bobcat Softball Season
WATCH: txstatebobcats.com/watch/
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GAME INFORMATION – NORTH DAKOTA STATE
12:30 p.m. CST | Bobcat Softball Season
WATCH: txstatebobcats.com/watch/
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GAME INFORMATION – ABILENE CHRISTIAN
2 p.m. CST | Bobcat Softball Season
WATCH: txstatebobcats.com/watch/
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ABOUT TEXAS STATE
On Feb. 1, the Sun Belt Conference announced the results of the preseason coaches' poll. The Bobcats were selected to finish second in the conference standings and garnered one first-place vote. The league favorite, Louisiana, collected eight first-place votes, while Troy claimed the final first-place tally.

Junior infielder Hailey MacKay and junior catcher Haleigh Davis were selected to the conference preseason team. MacKay led the team in 10 offensive categories a season ago, including: batting average (.341), hits (60), doubles (nine), home runs (12) and RBI (39). Davis took over as the defensive leader behind the dish. She boasted a fielding percentage of .982, making seven errors in 388 total chances and successfully picked off 15 base runners. Davis posted a batting average of .326 with six home runs and 19 RBI on the offensive side of the plate.

2019 BOBCAT CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Thursday, Feb. 7
5:00 p.m.             UTSA vs. Texas State

Friday, Feb. 8
11:00 a.m.           Colorado State vs. Abilene Christian
1:15 p.m.             Texas State vs. North Dakota State
3:30 p.m.             Colorado State vs. Texas State
5:30 p.m.             UTSA vs. North Dakota State

Saturday, Feb. 9
10:00 a.m.           Texas State vs. Abilene Christian
12:30 p.m.           Texas State vs. North Dakota State
3:00 p.m.             Colorado State vs. Abilene Christian
5:30 p.m.             Colorado State vs. UTSA
8:00 p.m.             UTSA vs. North Dakota State

Sunday, Feb. 10
10:00 a.m.           Colorado State vs. North Dakota State
12:00 p.m.           UTSA vs. Abilene Christian
2:00 p.m.             Texas State vs. Abilene Christian

UP NEXT FOR THE BOBCATS
Texas State will continue the non-conference tournament portion of the schedule with a trip to Las Cruces, N.M. for the 2019 Troy Cox Classic. The tournament is hosted by New Mexico State and will include games against Bradley, Montana and San Jose State.

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