SAN MARCOS, Texas – Despite starting pitcher Jessica Mullins striking out a season-high seven in a complete-game effort, Texas State was shut out for the first time this season as South Dakota State beat the Bobcats 2-0 on Friday at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
 
Texas State (4-3) only mustered two hits but had runners on base in four of the seven innings at the plate. The Bobcats had a runner in scoring position in the second and third innings, but ended up stranding five total against SDSU starting pitcher Tori Kniesche.

Kniesche completed her fourth shutout of the season as she has yet to allow a run this season in five appearances (four starts).
 
"It was the game I was expecting," said Texas State head coach Ricci Woodard. "I knew it was going to be a pitching duel. (Kniesche) has a 0.00 ERA (this season) for a reason. I just wasn't expecting to give up the lead early. That kind of changes our game plan. That's where things got thrown off a little bit because we had to fight behind against a tough pitcher to do that against."

Mullins threw her second complete game of the year and scattered six hits and three walks over the seven innings in the losing decision. She surrendered a two-out RBI double in the second and then a one-out, run-producing double in the third for the only blemishes on the scoreboard. The right-hander retired nine of the last 10 batters she faced after working out of a jam in the fifth where she surrendered back-to-back singles to open the frame.
 
Both teams finished 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
 
Texas State did draw four walks off of Kniesche, which matched their season-high in free passes this season.
 
Anna Jones had one of the two hits for Texas State with a single up the middle in the second inning. The base hit by Jones followed a leadoff walk drawn by JJ Smith, but Kniesche struck out the side to strand Jones and Smith in scoring position.
 
Hannah Earls had the only other for the Bobcats, a bunt single in the fifth that put two runners on base. The Bobcats ended the frame, though, with back-to-back fly outs.
 
The Bobcats and Jackrabbits will meet for the second of their three games this weekend on Saturday at 2:30 pm.