TROY, AL – The Bobcats get off to a slow start in conference play dropping both games of a double header with the Troy Trojans. The Bobcats fell 7-6 in game one and 6-3 in game two despite a back-and-forth day.
 
GAME ONE: TXST 6, Troy 7
The Trojans started off strong. After not allowing a hit in the top of the first, their first at bat was a triple to right center. Troy got its first run off a ground out in the team's second at bat and added a second run off a single to take the lead after one.
 
In the top of the second, Sara Vanderford hit a single to get on base and stole second on Karmyn Bass' at bat. She advanced to third on a pass ball and scored on a throwing error to score the first run for the Bobcats.
 
The Trojans hit a home run in the bottom of the second for the 3-1 lead.
 
To follow it up, Anna Jones hit a homerun down the right field line good for two RBI to tie the game. From there, the game was tied until the top of the fifth inning when Anna Jones scored on a fly out from Sara Vanderford.
 
The Trojans regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth off a 2 RBI single. 
 
JJ Smith hit her second home run of the season in the 6^th inning to draw the game level once again. Her home run was matched by the Trojans in the bottom of the 6^th, but theirs was good for 2 RBI to take the lead. Headed to the seventh inning, the Trojans held the 7-5 lead.
 
Karmyn Bass hit her first home run of the year in the bottom of the 7^th but Smith's flyout on the next at bat would end the game with the Bobcats losing 7-6.
 
GAME TWO: TXST 3, Troy 6
Game two started off conservatively with just two hits for either side in the opening three innings of play. Karsen Pierce had a great start from the mound though, earning three strikeouts in the opening three innings of play. She wouldn't allow a single base hit until the bottom of the fifth inning. 
 
The Bobcats took the lead in the fourth inning when Smith singled through the right side for 2 RBI, giving Emilee Baker her first run of the weekend and Vanderford her second. Randolph also scored in the fourth off Makayla Hall's groundout to give the Bobcats the 3-0 lead.
 
The Trojans got their first hit in the bottom of the fifth inning which was a Finch single to left center that earned them their first run. 
 
After a double from the first batter in the sixth, the Bobcats made a pitching change. Bailee Welsh came in for her fourth appearance of the season.
 
From there, the Trojans got hot. They hit a two RBI single to tie the game, followed up by a three RBI homerun to cap off their scoring. The Bobcats tried to come back in the 7^th, but to no avail. After the opening day of conference play the Bobcats would have a 18-11 record on the season and 0-2 in conference play. 
 
UP NEXT: The Bobcats will face the Trojans Sunday, March 19^th at 12 p.m. (CT) to close out the series before seeing in-state competition UTSA on March 22.