SAN MARCOS, Texas – Katarina Zarate's third home run of her career would be the difference maker in an extra-inning walk off win for the Bobcats on Tuesday night. After coming behind from a 2-0 deficit, the Bobcats would win 4-2 and improve to 26-14-1 on the season.
Presley Glende got her second start of the season on the mound where she didn't allow a hit in the first two innings. She went three up for three outs through the first two innings.
Things started out similarly slow for the Bobcats, though. Despite two walks and a hit in the first two innings, nothing was on the scoreboard headed into the third inning.
The third is where the Bearkats started gaining some momentum. After a throwing error by Zarate helped the Bearkats get on base, they were able to score on a sacrifice fly. Following that up, the Bobcats went three up and three out.
Head coach
Ricci Woodard opted for a pitching change heading into the fifth inning.
"Anytime you put a
Jessica Mullins in the game you change the momentum," Woodard said. "That's what you're hoping to happen. She came in and did exactly what we needed her to do to keep us in the ballgame."
And keep the Bobcats in the ball game she did. She went 51 pitches on the night with 35 strikes and five strikeouts, not allowing a single hit in her four innings pitched.
It took until the bottom of the sixth for the Bobcats to get on board.
Anna Jones scored the opening run when an error by Zarate helped her get three bases.
After Mullins struck out two in the top of the 7
th, the Bobcats just needed a run to go to extras. With two outs,
Sara Vanderford came up to bat. The senior who is fourth in school history with now 47 doubles hit one to left field, helping Randolph get home to tie the game up.
"The good thing is, we talked about this last week in practice how we have to win the 5
th, 6
th and 7
th innings," said Woodard. "The bad part is that we didn't win the first four innings. We have to figure out how to put the whole game together."
Despite not putting together the whole game, the Bobcats fought to close out this one positively. Mullins threw two strike outs in the eighth to end the night for the Bearkats.
"She came in and really shut them down," Zarate said. "That made us get momentum. She trusted us, we trusted her. We just trusted and fought to the end."
From there, it was once again in the hands of the offense to do something to win the game. After a pitching change from the Bearkats,
Karmyn Bass was walked. Smith would ground out, but then Zarate came up to bat. On just her second pitch faced, she homered to left field for the win.
"I was just trying to do everything I could to help my team win," she said. "I knew it was a very important situation so I just found a pitch that I could drive and just trusted myself."
The Bobcats are now 3-1 on the season in extra-inning games.
Next up The Bobcats will see #8 Texas inside Bobcat Softball Stadium tomorrow night. The game starts at 6 p.m. with a standing-room only crowd expected.
"We have to start stronger and stay strong through the game," Zarate said. "We've beat them before so we just have to go in there and trust ourselves and play as a team."
After this midweek date with the Longhorns the Bobcats will return to conference play with a road trip to Louisiana for a three-game weekend series.
