CONWAY, S.C. — Heading into this weekend's series at Coastal Carolina,
Caitlyn Rogers never had a four-hit game as a member of the Texas State softball program. That changed during the Bobcats' 8-2 win over the Chanticleers Friday night.
Rogers, a senior catcher out of Magnolia, Texas, finished the seven-inning contest by going 4-for-4 at the plate with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored out of the six spot in Texas State's lineup. She became the first Bobcat softball student-athlete to have a 4-for-4 performance at the dish since then-junior
Tara Oltmann accomplished the feat in a 6-2 Texas State win against UC Davis on Feb. 29, 2020.
"The biggest thing for (Caitlyn) was that she did a great job of standing behind the ball today and just staying in the middle of the zone and staying in the middle of the field. Any time she does that, she's going to be successful," said Texas State softball head coach
Ricci Woodard. "She did a great job for us in every area of the game today."
Rogers broke up Coastal Carolina's no-hit bid with two outs in the top of the second inning, when she singled a 1-2 back to the Chanticleer shortstop Abbey Montoya. The left-handed catcher's fourth-inning single loaded the bases for Texas State (15-13, 3-4) with only one out. But Rogers,
Piper Randolph and
Sara Vanderford were all left on base.
After Texas State answered Coastal Carolina's fourth inning run with one of its own in the fifth, Rogers broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth. It was Rogers' third home run on the season, fourth of her career and first since March 2, 2022 against Texas A&M – Corpus Christi.
Rogers' home run sparked a five-run, six-hit inning for Texas State that allowed the Bobcats to take control of the contest.
Despite a solo home run for the Chanticleers (12-15, 1-6) in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Texas State to four, Rogers singled a 2-2 pitch to left field to open the seventh inning with her fourth hit of the game. She was moved to third on a pinch-hit double off the bat of
Samara Lagway and ultimately scored on a passed ball to
Hannah Earls.
Ciara Trahan, who drove in a career-high three runs during the game, capped the two-run, two-hit Bobcat seventh when she scored
Claire Ginder from third on a fielder's choice.
Presley Glende, who took the pitching circle following 5.1 innings of one-run softball from starter
Jessica Mullins (10-9), closed out the game by retiring Coastal Carolina in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Texas State will look to take its first Sun Belt series of the season when the Bobcats and Chanticleers square off on Saturday, March 26 at 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET.
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