SAN MARCOS, TX — The pitching duo of Jessica Mullins and Karsen Pierce turned in Texas State's third double-digit strikeout performance on the season to highlight the Bobcats' 4-0 win over UTSA on Tuesday, March 15. 

Jessica Mullins (8-6) got the starting assignment in the pitching circle and went on to toss 89 pitches throughout the game's opening 5.2 innings, before giving way to Pierce with two outs in the top of the sixth. In her time in the circle, Mullins struck out a season-high nine batters, scattered three singles and issued just two walks to 22 batters faced. Pierce struck out two of the four batters she faced in relief to shut the door on the game. 

Tuesday's pitching performance marked the first shutout by the Bobcats since beating App State, 5-0, on Saturday, March 12. The Bobcats have also tossed shutouts against North Dakota (10-0) and then-No. 22 Arizona State (2-0) on Friday, March 4 and Sunday, Feb. 27, respectively. 

In seven innings Tuesday afternoon, UTSA's best scoring opportunity came in the top of the first when the Roadrunners (7-15) had the bases loaded — following a one-out walk, then back-to-back two-out singles — with two away, but a grounder to Sara Vanderford at third ended the inning. 

Mullins went on two allow just two baserunners throughout her remaining time in the circle — a one-out walk in the top of the third and a one-out single in the top of the fifth — before giving way to Pierce. 

The Texas State (13-9) wasted little time giving Mullins run support as by the time Piper Randolph — the six-hole hitter in the lineup — came to the plate in the bottom of the first, the Bobcats had already scored a run on a two-out Claire Ginder single to centerfield. The hit extended Ginder's current hitting streak to nine games as well as plate Cat Crenek, who recorded the Bobcats' first hit of the game with a one-out single up the middle. 

Two innings later, it was Randolph, who brought home the second Texas State run of the game when she singled back up the middle to allow Anna Jones, who singled a 1-1 pitch to left field for a one-out hit then stole second, scored from second. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Vanderford, playing in her 99th career game, recorded career RBIs 79 and 80 with a two-run, one-out single to score both Crenek and Kylie George. Vanderford, the Sun Belt Conference's Preseason Player of the Year, will be looking for her 100th career hit when the Bobcats return to the field at 6 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 16 against the Baylor Bears.

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