TEMPE, Arizona – Texas State softball continued its winning streak at the Sun Devil/GCU Classic with two wins, this time against Utah Valley and Idaho State. The Bobcats won 4-3 over the Wolverines and 4-1 over the Bengals on Saturday.
 
The Bobcats went up early in the game with Utah Valley, scoring all four runs in the first two innings. From there, the Wolverines were able to slowly build back, but a clutch pitching performance by Jessica Mullins with the bases loaded to strikeout the Wolverines for a third out in the 7^th preserved the one run lead and the 'Cats victory.
 
Against Idaho State, the 'Cats once again got out to a hot start. With three runs in the first inning again, the Bobcats controlled the game. Despite the Bengals pulling back a run off a Bobcat error and wild pitch, they were only able to get three hits in this game and the Bobcats won 4-2.

The Bobcats continue with close out their run at the Sun Devil/GCU Classic against the hosts, Grand Canyon, at 12:30 pm (CT) tomorrow. The Bobcats have already won five of six games they'll play at the Classic.
 
Game Summaries
'Cats Hold Off Utah Valley for 4-3 Win
Karsen Pierce started in the pitching circle for the Bobcats. She gave up two singles, but got out of the inning without giving up a run after striking out a batter and Hannah Earls catching a lineout.
 
The 'Cats scored three runs in the first, starting off a Ciara Trahan single. Vanderford reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. After walking Anna Jones, Karmyn Bass singled to right, scoring Trahan. Piper Randolph doubled to left to score Bass and Jones.
 
Texas State added a fourth run in the 2^nd inning run off a fielding error by the Wolverines' shortstop.
 
The Wolverines got in the board on the 3^rd off a wild pitch. Then, in the 6^th, Presley Glende gave up a solo homer to right field to make things 4-2.
 
In the 7^th, the Wolverines drew it back within one run. An Earls error allowed a Wolverine on base to load them, then Analisa Soliz walked the next batter up to score the run. Jessica Mullins then came in to close the game out with the bases loaded. The senior struck out the final batter in a six-pitch battle to keep the Bobcats ahead and end the game.

Hot Start Keeps Bobcats in Control against Idaho State
Three straight singles started things off for the Bobcats, but with put outs on the bases it took until Bass singled to right as the 5^th batter to score the first run. Bass was followed up by a 2 RBI double from Randolph to go up 3-0 in the first.
 
An error and a wild pitch became the Bobcats detriment in the bottom of the inning, though, as Utah Valley pulled back one run after putting the ball in play four times in the opening inning and capitalizing off Bobcat defensive mistakes.
 
The 'Cats went three up, three down in the second. Following that up was a one hit inning for the Bengals. They had three runners on base due to an error and a walk, though. With the bases loaded but two outs, freshman pitcher Maddy Azua got a four-pitch strikeout to hold the Bobcats lead.
 
Both sides went three up, three down in the third and fourth. Texas State did the same in the top of the 5^th.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, though, Azua gave up a walk and a single. After that, Mullins came in to close the game once again. 
 
Neither side found another run until the Bobcats closing run in the top of the 7^th. JJ Smith got on base from a first-pitch double to right center. Dani Laughlin came in to pinch run for Smith and scored off Megan Kelnar's RBI single. 
 
Mullins closed the game out in the bottom of the 7^th with two strikeouts and a foul out. The Bobcats would end the day with two wins and a 13-4 record on the year.