Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN MARCOS – The Texas State softball team impressively opened its 2020 season as the Bobcats won their season-opener, 5-2, and took No. 15-ranked Kentucky to a full seven innings before falling 2-1 in the seventh frame.
 
GAME 1
In their first game of the day, Texas State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead over South Alabama when the Bobcats took advantage of two walks and a hit by a pitch and scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Bailee Carter got the Bobcats started when she drew a leadoff walk. After the next two hitters were retired, Carter stole second base and reached third on a throwing error by USA catcher, Kamdyn Kvistad. Hailey MacKay drew Texas State's second walk in the inning and stole second before ArieAnn Bell loaded the bases when she was hit by a pitch.
 
Sarah Vanderford drove in Texas State's first two runs of the season with a single to center field. Bell advanced to second and scored the third run when Samara Lagway singled to left field.
 
South Alabama scored its first run in the top of the second inning when third basemen Katelyn Gruich homered to left-center field off Meagan King.
 
Texas State added to its lead in the bottom of the third inning when MacKay hit a double down the left-field line and scored following Vanderford's single and a throwing error by left fielder Amanda Flynn.
 
South Alabama added its second run when Shelby Sloan hit a home run to right field in the top of the fifth inning. The Bobcats answered in the bottom of the inning when Bell hit a home run to right field to make the final score 5-2.
 
King (1-0) pitched a complete game as she struck out 11 hitters without giving up any walks. Kelsie Rivers (0-1) took the loss for South Alabama. The Bobcats scored their final run in the game when Bell hit a home run.
 
GAME 2
Texas State went toe-to-toe with No. 15-ranked Kentucky as neither team could score any runs before the Bobcats scored an unearned run in the top of the fourth inning.
 
Tara Oltmann began the fourth frame with a single up the middle. After she stole second, ArieAnn Bell drew a walk to give the Bobcats runners on first and second with one out. Kylie George came into pinch run for Oltmann. She advanced to third when Sara Vanderford reached on a fielding error by Gruich.  Texas State's next hitter, Samara Lagway, hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate George for the first run of the game.
 
Kentucky came back to tie the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the fifth inning when Lauren Johnson singled to left field and stole second base. After Kayla Kowalik drew a walk, Rylea Smith hit a single through the right side to drive in Johnson. 
 
The Wildcats came back with another run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Bailey Vick hit a single to left field. Vick moved into scoring position when she stole second base. Kowalik hit a single to shortstop to allow Vick to advance to third. Smith recorded her second RBI in the game when she singled to right center, allowing Vick to score and give the Wildcats a 2-1 victory.
 
UP NEXT
Texas State will play two more games on Saturday when the Bobcats face Louisville at 9 a.m. and No. 23-ranked Auburn at 11:30 a.m.