SAN MARCOS, Texas — Following the postponement and cancellation of its first two weekends, the Texas State softball team will finally return to action and open its 2021 season on Monday, Feb. 21 when the Bobcats host Abilene Christian.

First pitch of Monday's matinée doubleheader is scheduled for 12:02 p.m. with the second game to follow 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first. Both games will be broadcasted on ESPN+. 

"It will be great to get on the field and play someone in a different uniform," said Texas State softball head coach Ricci Woodard. "It's been 345 days since we played a true game against another opponent. I'm looking forward to seeing where this team is right now after all their preparations."

The two teams were originally scheduled to play each other twice during this weekend's UTA Maverick Classic, but winter weather forced the cancellation of the round-robin tournament late last week. The Wildcats will enter Monday's contest with a 2-2 record on a season with a pair of wins over UTEP and a pair of losses to Oklahoma. 

PLAYER TO WATCH: Tara Oltmann

Tara Oltmann was Texas State's lone representative on the Sun Belt Conference's 15-player Preseason All-Sun Belt Team earlier this month. Oltmann, the 5-foot-7 right-hander, split time at shortstop and designated player positions during the 2020 season en route to slashing .377/.403/.590 on the campaign. She recorded a career-high four hits in a 4-for-4 performance UC Davis on Feb. 29, which came two weeks after driving in a career-high five runs against Saint Louis on Feb. 15. In 19 games last year, Oltmann was credited with seven multi-hit games throughout the season. 

INSIDE THE SERIES: Abilene Christian

• Texas State and Abilene Christian are meeting for the first time since Feb. 12, 2017, when the Bobcats won, 8-3, behind a 5-RBI performance from Taylor Webb. 
• The Bobcats hold a 5-1 all-time record against the Wildcats, including a 3-1 mark in games played in San Marcos, Texas and 4-1 in games played inside the state of Texas. 
• Every game between the two teams has gone at least seven innings — a 2016 meeting on Feb. 14 went eight innings — with the exception of one when TXST won, 13-1, in five innings on Feb. 12, 2016. 
• The 12-run margin of victory for Texas State in its 13-1 win on Feb. 12, 2016 is the largest margin of victory for the Bobcats over the Wildcats in series history. 
• No active Texas State player has played against Abilene Christian. 

THE NEW FACES

The 2021 edition of the Texas State softball team features seven first-year players within the program. Mia Cantu (Louisiana) and Sydney Belvin (McNeese State) join the Bobcats from four-year institutions, while Hannah Earls, Jessica Mullins, Piper Randolph, Raina Lange and Baylee Lemons come to San Marcos from the high school ranks. 

STAFFING THE ACES

Woodard and her coaching staff have the pleasure of returning its entire pitching staff from the 2020 season. Tori McCann (5), Meagan King (5) and Dalilah Barrera (5) combined to earn 15 wins in the pitching circle with the trio all throwing 48-or-more innings throughout the Bobcats' 24 games last season. King enters the 2020 season tied with Dawn Steele (1987-90) for the ninth-most wins in a career (30) in program history. She is three behind Amy Stuart (1992-95) for eighth and 10 behind Anne Marie Taylor (2010-13) for seventh.