SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State ended its five-game weekend with a split of two games on Sunday, run-ruling South Dakota State 9-1 in the morning and then being shut out by New Mexico State 4-0 in the afternoon at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
 
The Bobcats (6-4) went 3-2 over the weekend behind stable performances from their pitching staff. On Sunday, Tori McCann turned in a complete-game against the Jackrabbits (8-4) to pick up her second win of the season. Then in the afternoon contest, Jessica Mullins suffered the loss despite only giving up one earned run (three runs total) while Karsen Pierce fanned four in 3 1/3 innings of relief.
 
Texas State has held its opponents to four runs or less in all 10 games this season.
 
"(The pitching staff) did a great job when they hit their spots," said Texas State head coach Ricci Woodard. "We can't elevate the ball. If we leave the ball elevated, you're usually going to pay for that. So, every pitch that we left elevated, we paid for it. Their biggest thing – the pitchers – is to hit their spots. Everything else will take care of itself. We did a better job than last week on the mound, which is half the battle. As long as we can keep getting better, we'll be fine. But we can't keep going 3-2 every weekend."
 
Offensively, the Bobcats matched their season-high in runs in the game against South Dakota State before being shut out for the second time this weekend against the Aggies. Against the Jackrabbits, the Bobcats had a season-high six walks drawn to go with their eight hits.
 
"We came out aggressive in game one, just like we need to do, and in game two, we tried that (but) I feel like we were getting ourselves out for being too aggressive," said Woodard. "We just never really adjusted and got the momentum of the game again. We couldn't put it all together at one time."
 
Freshman Katarina Zarate had two hits and two RBIs in the two games while Anna Jones hit her first career home run in the South Dakota State contest.
 
Eight of the nine Bobcats reached base safely at least once in the South Dakota State game, but against New Mexico State, they were limited to two hits – which matched their season-low – and three walks.
 
"We got to continue to find some consistency across the lineup," said Woodard. "I thought Kat Zarate had a good last couple of games, which is great if we can get her going. Karmyn Bass took some walks. If we can get it all going one through nine, we're going to be dangerous. But we got to find the consistency, day in and day out, from every player."
 
Texas State continues its long homestand to open the season with the TXST Classic at Bobcat Softball Stadium from Feb. 23-26. The tournament gets underway for the Bobcats on Thursday with a doubleheader against UTSA (2 pm) and UTA (4:30 pm).