SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State softball ended the 2023 TXST Classic with a perfect 6-0 record courtesy of a two RBI single from JJ Smith in the bottom of the fifth inning. Her single would give the Bobcats the 4-3 lead as pitcher Jessica Mullins would close out the game from the top of the mound, not allowing another hit after Smith's single. 
 
Colorado State was able to get up early on the Bobcats after Brooke Bohlender started off the scoring with a homerun to left field that put the Rams up 2-0. They were able to tack on a third before the inning ended and the Bobcats made a pitching change and Jessica Mullins stepped to the mound.
 
"This is probably the best staff that we've had," said head coach Ricci Woodard. "You see a lot of them and that helps in the confidence that [each pitcher] doesn't have to do it all."
 
When Mullins stepped in she knew she needed to come in with the confidence and she knew that the Bobcats pitching staff has each other's backs.
 
"When we got into our huddle I told [McCann], 'I got you,' and it goes both ways," Mullins said. "She has me and I have her whenever any of us faulter we are able to get back up again."
 
As Mullins settled into the game, so did the Bobcats as they looked to fight back and remain undefeated in their final home tournament of the 2023 season.
 
In the bottom of the third, Megan Kelnar would get the first run to start the comeback off a Piper Randolph triple. 
 
From there, it would take to the fifth inning for the Bobcats to seal their win.
 
Piper Randolph scored off a sacrifice fly from Sara Vanderford.
 
To seal the game, with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, JJ Smith stepped up to bat with two runners on base and needing two runs to take the lead. She singled to right field while Hannah Earls and Ciara Trahan scored to take the lead.
 
Smith said in response to her hit that she was just trying to have her teammates backs all weekend. 
 
"As the season goes on, we're going to keep getting more comfortable in the situations we're in," Smith said. "The energy is just going to be contagious throughout everybody."
 
After Smith's single, from there it was up to Mullins to close out the game. Mullins would close out the game with no hits allowed in the final two innings and having allowed just one in her five innings pitched. 
 
With the 4-3 win over Colorado State, the Bobcats maintained a perfect 6-0 run through the TXST Classic and are on a six-game win streak. 
 
Up next the team will head to Boca Raton, Florida for the Owl Classic. Their first game of that tournament will be March 2 at 11 am (CT) against Winthrop.