SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State senior first baseman Hailey MacKay began her march towards earning the program's third consecutive Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week throughout the Bobcats' 6-0 win over Sam Houston State Wednesday night. 

MacKay, one of only four players who has found herself in the Texas State starting lineup in every game this season, recorded a season-high three hits in three plate appearances against the Bearkats. She also was credited with a season-high two doubles and matched her season high with two runs batted in. 

"I feel good right now; it's always good to get a win," said MacKay, who is now batting .395 for the season. "Obviously, I'm seeing the ball at the plate really well right now, so I'm just trying to work on getting a pitch I can drive and hopefully I can carry that over into tomorrow."

"I didn't think we did a real great job at the plate — for the most part — but we still got out of here scoring six runs and having nine hits," said Texas State softball head coach Ricci Woodard. "I think we have some players who are doing really well at the plate and some who just weren't very focused tonight. I think we have to do a better job if we want to get a win tomorrow."

MacKay was one of the focal points in getting Bobcat starting pitcher Jessica Mullins (4-2) an early lead as the senior singled a 1-0 pitch back up the middle to score Tara Oltmann from third base. Oltmann, in the previous at bat, clubbed a one-out triple to the left-centerfield gap. This came after reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week Sara Vanderford sent a 1-0 pitch nearly 50 feet beyond the centerfield fence for a solo home run. 

MacKay extended the Bobcat lead to three runs in the bottom of the third inning when she doubled down the left-field line to score Oltmann, who drew a two-out walk, from first. 

An inning later, Texas State added two more runs when pinch-runner Marisa Cruz scored from second on a Bearkat throwing error. Vanderford followed two batters later with a double to the right-centerfield gap to plate Molly Damiani. 

MacKay got her third hit of the game when she led off the bottom of the fifth inning by sending a 3-0 pitch to the right-centerfield gap. She was lifted for Sydney Belvin, who scored from third on a grounder from Caitlyn Rogers two batters later. 

While the Bobcat offense added runs throughout the night, Mullins was doing her best to make sure the Sam Houston State (3-11) offense was not as the freshman struck out five and scattered two hits in five innings before giving way to Dalilah Barrera, who retired all six batters she faced on the night. 

Texas State (11-3) returns to action Thursday, March 11 when the Bobcats play host to BYU (9-9) at 6 p.m.