SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Texas State softball program continued its winning ways over UTSA as the Bobcats earned an 8-1 win over the Roadrunners on the road on Saturday night. 

The Texas State win marked the fourth win in a row for the Bobcats over the Roadrunners — the first four-game winning streak for TXST over UTSA since the 2017-2018 seasons — and the eighth win in the last nine games against UTSA. 

"The team was feeling pretty loose tonight," said Texas State softball head coach Ricci Woodard on her team Saturday night. "I think we are in a great spot heading into conference (play next week) that's for sure.

"I thought the team swung the bats a lot more aggressively tonight and that allowed the runs to be scored early. And any time you can do that for your pitchers, that kind of lets things happen a little easier."

Sara Vanderford got the offense rolling in the top of the first inning as she plated Kylie George, who led off the game with an infield single, from first on a double to the left-centerfield gap just two batters into the game. Baylee Lemons followed three batters later with a two-out single to score Vanderford from second. 

The early run production by the Texas State (14-3) offense allowed Meagan King (3-1) to settle in to a groove early as she retired UTSA in order in the bottom of the first. 

In the top of the second, the Bobcat productivity at the plate continued as Vanderford drove in Caitlyn Rogers with a two-out single to centerfield. Tara Oltmann followed with a single to right field to plate Hannah Earls. Hailey MacKay made it 5-0, Bobcats, with TXST's third straight two-out, run-scoring single as she drove it Vanderford from third. 

The offensive outburst continued for Texas State when the Bobcats scored two more in the top of the third off one hit and one error. An inning later, Vanderford scored her third run of the game when she touched home on another MacKay run-scoring single in the top of the fourth. 

King limited UTSA to only two hits and a walk over four innings, before Dalilah Barrera entered the circle in the bottom of the fifth. 

UTSA (5-8) scored its lone run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-out, two-strike double. 

Texas State will return to action on Tuesday, March 14 when the Bobcats begin Sun Belt Conference play in Atlanta, Ga., when TXST plays Georgia State.