CONWAY, S.C. – The Texas State softball team (22-17, 10-5 Sun Belt) clipped the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (29-12, 9-7 Sun Belt) in game one of the weekend series at St. John Stadium on Friday evening by a score of 5-3.

KEY MOMENTS
- Sophomore infielder Tara Oltmann took full advantage of the wind blowing out to right center as she crushed her third home run of the season. The two-run shot opened the scoring and gave the Bobcats a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
- Texas State extended the lead in the top of the third inning. Sophomore infielder ArieAnn Bell ripped a single through the middle of the infield to plate Oltmann from second.
- Bell delivered her second RBI in the top of the fifth inning. She lined a double into the right field gap to score junior infielder Bailee Carter from second.
- Coastal Carolina found the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sophomore catcher Sam Sack lined a solo home run over the right field fence.
- TXST extended the lead back to four runs on a suicide squeeze from junior outfielder Christiana McDowell in the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore pinch runner Brianna Sannem raced home from third to score on the play.
- The home team made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh inning when freshman designated player Mackenzie Beyer hit a two-run home run to left center. Senior outfielder Mari Cranek made a game-ending catch on the warning track to seal the victory at 5-3.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Sophomore pitcher Meagan King (14-8) went the distance to earn the victory. She yielded three earned runs on five hits and a walk. She fanned a trio of Chanticleer batters.
- Bell led the Bobcat offense with a 2-for-3 afternoon at the plate. She recorded two RBI, a double, and was hit by a pitch. Bell was the lone Bobcat to record a multi-hit game.
- Oltmann finished 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk drawn, and a stolen base.
- Texas State drew seven walks to one by Coastal Carolina. Junior infielder Hailey MacKay and Carter each induced a pair of walks. TXST averages 4.4 free passes per game.

NOTABLES
- King has won 10-straight decisions in the circle. Her last loss came against conference-leading Louisiana on March 8.
- Oltmann leads the Bobcats with 12 extra-base hits. She has tagged three home runs and nine doubles during her second season in the Maroon and Gold. Oltmann also tops Bobcat hitters with 30 RBI.
- The Bobcats advance to 14-1 on the season when tallying at least five runs.
- Texas State improves to 6-0 in the all-time series against Coastal Carolina. The Bobcats are a perfect 3-0 in Conway after sweeping the weather-shortened series in 2017.

ON DECK
- The Bobcats will continue the three-game weekend series against Coastal Carolina with a 1 p.m. CT first pitch on April 13.  

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