SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State freshman right-handed pitcher Jessica Mullins was up to her old tricks in the Bobcats' 6-1 win over Houston Friday night. 

Mullins, in her seventh start this season, tossed her fourth complete game as she went the full seven innings, struck out seven, scattered four hits, issued one walk and allowed only one run on 99 pitches to 26 batters. She did not allow her first hit of the game until Kati Ray Brown beat a throw to first from Bobcat third baseman Baylee Lemons with two outs in the top of the fifth. 

"For the challenges of that game, I thought we did a pretty good job of scoring early then figuring out how to score late, so I feel pretty good about taking game one tonight," said Texas State softball head coach Ricci Woodard. "I think having Mullins throw the same she threw in the circle tonight really helped keep the team up after the first inning. She always does a good job of being able to bring momentum back to our side after we don't look good on offense."

The Texas State (8-3) offense gave Mullins (3-2) an early three-run lead after the Bobcats sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning that resulted in three runs on three hits.

The runs came on back-to-back bases-loaded walks to Lemons and Hannah Earls, respectively, before ArieAnn Bell singled to left-centerfield to score Hailey MacKay, who drew the first of three walks for the TXST offense in the inning, from third. 

Mullins responded by retiring the next 11 consecutive Cougar battings — six of which came via the strikeout — until Brown's infield single in the bottom of the fifth. 

"Since the beginning of this season, I've really felt like I'm just really getting into how my body feels after I pitch," Mullins said. "I'm really focusing on adjusting the little things to help produce big things for this team."

Big things happened for the Texas State offense, again, in the bottom of the sixth inning when Sara Vanderford clubbed a two-out double to centerfield to score Kylie George and Molly Damiani to extend the Bobcats' lead. MacKay capped the offense for the night during the next at bat as she doubled home Vanderford, who advanced to third on a wild pitch during the plate appearance. 

Houston (7-7) attempted to make a rally in the top of the seventh as the Cougars managed back-to-back singles off Mullins to start the inning. Brown, who broke up Mullins' no-hitter in the fifth inning, broke up her shutout, too, with a two-out infield single. 

The two teams will continue the three-game series on Saturday, March 6 with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.