LAS CRUCES, N.M. —Sara Vanderford's offensive abilities were on full display during Texas State's Sunday matinee contest against Oregon State.
Vanderford, the Sun Belt Conference's Preseason Player of the Year, cracked the Bobcats' first base hit of the game when she was credited with a double down the right-field line with two outs in the bottom of the first. The double was Vanderford's first on the season after having 18 — the second most in single-season history — in 2021.
Two innings later, Vanderford clubbed her first home run of the season, too, when she sent a two-out pitch over the left field fence for a solo home run. It was her 16th career home run and 83rd career hit in just 228 career at bats.
Through three games this season, Vanderford is hitting .500 (4-8) with five runs scored, two runs batted in, a double, a home run and three walks.
BATTING LEADERS
PITCHING LEADERS
SCORES BY INNINGS
- 1st | Texas State 0, Oregon State 0
- 2nd | Oregon State 1, Texas State 0
- 3rd | Oregon State 3, Texas State 1
- 4th | Oregon State 3, Texas State 1
- 5th | Oregon State 5, Texas State 1
- 6th | Oregon State 5, Texas State 1
- 7th | Oregon State 6, Texas State 1
GAME NOTES
- With Sara Vanderford's solo home run in the bottom of the third inning, Sunday's contest marked the third straight game with a home run for the Bobcats.
- With her two hits on Sunday morning, Anna Jones recorded her first career multi-hit game as a Bobcat and first multi-hit game of her career since going 2 for 3 against Illinois State on March 8, 2020, when she was a member of the LSU Tigers.
- With her two hits against Oregon State, sophomore Piper Randolph now has a 10-game hitting streak that dates back to the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Tournament opener against Georgia State on May 12, 2021.
- Texas State and Oregon State have now met three times throughout the Bobcats' history with all three matchups happening on a neutral field.
UP NEXT
- With its season-opening three-game weekend now in the past, the Texas State (2-1) softball program will turn its attention to its home-opening contest on Thursday, Feb. 17, when the Bobcats play host to the nationally ranked Oregon Ducks.
- For the latest information on the team, follow @TXStateSoftball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. General athletic news can also be at @TxStateBobcats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
