SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State softball hosts two midweek games against in-state foes Sam Houston and #10 Texas. Both games will start at 6 p.m. inside Bobcat Softball Stadium and be available to stream on ESPN+.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS:
Texas State, which is coming off a 38-win campaign and narrowly missing an NCAA Regional as an at-large bid, was picked second in the Sun Belt coaches preseason poll. The Bobcats have finished in the conference's top three in the standings for three straight years, but the conference has grown this year with three new teams: James Madison, Marshall, and Southern Miss.
The Bobcats returns 12 players from last year's team, including former All-Sun Belt players
Jessica Mullins(pitcher),
Sara Vanderford (third base),
Ciara Trahan (outfield) and
Hannah Earls (shortstop). The Bobcats also return position players
Anna Jones (52 games) and
Piper Randolph (43 games). Offensively, the Bobcats return 61 percent of their RBI from last year (146 out of 238).
In the circle, the Bobcats return Mullins,
Karsen Pierce (26 appearances, 13 starts),
Presley Glende (17 appearances, 3 starts) and
Tori McCann (7 appearances, 2 starts). Texas State returns 98 percent of its innings pitched from last season.
In her junior year, pitcher
Jessica Mullins has entered Texas State's all-time top-10 in several career categories.
- 4th overall for ERA (1.79),
- 8th for appearances (109)
- 8th for innings pitched (524.1)
- 6th for wins (60)
- 10th for shutouts (11).
- Mullins is one complete game away from breaking into the top 10 with 41.
In addition to Mullins, third baseman
Sara Vanderford is also climbing the Texas State career lists. The senior is third in career batting average (.332), 4th in career doubles (46), 4th in career home runs (28), and 5th in career RBI (128).
Hannah Earls has made her way into the record book with 57 stolen bases, good to be 3rd on the all-time list. Sophomore
Ciara Trahan is in the record books with a .332 batting average in 310 at bats, good for second on the all-time list.
The Bobcats head into this week's game with a 25-14-1 record on the season. The Bobcats currently sit on a five-game win streak after two conference series sweeps against Southern Miss and App State.
So far this season Earl's leads the team with a .354 batting average where she has 45 hits and 18 runs while tacking on 10 RBI. She has been walked 14 times this season and leads the team with 15 stolen bases.
ABOUT THE BEARKATS:
Sam Houston comes into the week with a 15-26 record on the season. The Bearkats are coming off a 7-4 win against New Mexico State. That result snapped a four-game losing streak for them.
Sam Houston has three batters batting above .300 this season, Brailey Wasik, Ellie Grill, and Ella Hebel. Wasik leads the way with a .311 and she leads the team with 24 RBI. Grill has 25 runs on 41 hits with 17 RBI.
Pitching for Sam Houston should be Daryn Grams. She's had 21 appearances for the Bearkats. She has a 2.76 ERA with 34 strikeouts and batter's averaging .257 against her. She's given up 42 runs on 76 hits this season.
Sam Houston currently sits in eighth place in the Western Athletic Conference.
ABOUT THE LONGHORNS:
Texas comes into the week with a 33-8-1 record on the season. The Longhorns are on a three game win streak after sweeping their series versus Iowa State. The Longhorns are currently ranked #10 in the nation in the NCAA rankings.
Texas has five batters batting above .300 this season, Leading the way is the freshman Viviana Martinez, who is averaging .392 and has 26 runs on 51 hits with 40 RBI. Following her up is Leighann Goode, who averages .388 and has 42 runs on 57 hits and 35 RBI.
Morgan Mac will likely start on the mound for the Longhorns. She has a 2.21 ERA on the season with batters averaging just .219 against her. She has 51 strikeouts on the season in 91.2 innings pitched.
Texas is currently third in the Big 12.
LAST TIME OUT:
The last time the Bobcats saw Sam Houston the the team won 7-4. The Bobcats are 35-18 all-time at home against the Bearkats.
The last time Texas State saw the Longhorns the Bobcats pulled off an upset win in Austin. Texas State won 5-4 in nine innings for its second win against a ranked opponent of the season.
UP NEXT: Texas State will head back out on the road for a series with conference leaders Louisiana. The three-game series will start on April 14 at 6 p.m. (CT).
