SAN MARCOS, Texas — One of the best to ever do it at Texas State University as another gem to her résumé as Bobcat softball head coach
Ricci Woodard earned her 700th career win on Tuesday, March 16 when Texas State beat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 2-0.
"It just means I've been here a long time," Woodard said with a chuckle following a post-game celebration. "This is a great group (of players) to do this with. I've said all year long that I really like this group. I love the way they just continue to battle and find ways to get it done."
Tori McCann started in the pitching circle for Texas State (15-3) Tuesday afternoon in a game that came together in less than 48 hours. The right-hander scattered three hits and struck out three more over the 3.1 innings of work, before
Jessica Mullins (7-2) was summoned out of the bullpen with two on and only one away in the top of the fourth.
Mullins went on to fan five of the first six batters she faced, including the first two to get out of the fourth-inning jam, and did not allow a hit or run in her 3.2 innings of work.
At the plate, the Bobcats wasted little time in getting McCann an early lead as Vanderford, who was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week for the second straight week, singled a 1-0 pitch down the third-base line for a one-out single.
Tara Oltmann, who is riding a 12-game hitting streak moved her to second on a single to left field. Vanderford moved to third on a fielder's choice, then scored on a two-out single off the bat of
Baylee Lemons.
The 1-0 Bobcat lead stood while McCann and Mullins combined to retire 22 of the 26 batters faced on the afternoon.
It was a redshirt-freshman in
Sydney Belvin who helped extend the Bobcat lead to two runs in the bottom of the sixth when she doubled through a three-player left-side of the diamond to plate
ArieAnn Bell, who hit a two-out single to right-centerfield, from first.
"I think this game provides another example of the mature and growth of this team," Woodard said. "We had several freshmen come up big in this game with just finding ways to get on base for us. I like the way they're approaching the game right now."
Texas State will return to action on Saturday, March 20 when the Bobcats travel to Boone, N.C., to start Sun Belt Conference play with a doubleheader at Appalachian State beginning at 12 p.m. CT.
