HARRISONBURG, Virginia – Texas State softball extended its winning streak to eight with a 7-3 win over James Madison on Saturday afternoon. The Bobcats are now 2-0 in Sun Belt play. 
 
Anna Jones had a good day at the plate with three hits in her four at bats. Sara Vanderford was also good for two hits, one run and 4 RBI on the day. 


Katarina Zarate and Piper Randolph were each good for two hits. JJ Smith, Hannah Earls, and Ciara Trahan each had a hit as well. 
 
Jessica Mullins started and pitched most of the game, going for 4.2 innings and allowing no runs. Mullins struck out four batters and gave up no extra-base hits. She walked just one batter. 


How it Happened
Trahan singled to third base for the Bobcats first hit of the game. She'd score off Vanderford's double to center. That was the Bobcats lone run in the 1st. 


Mullins walked the first batter she faced, but then retired three with one strikeout to get out of the inning without giving up a run. 


Neither side added any runs in the 2nd, but the Bobcats bats came alive in the third. Jones hit a double to left to start things off. Randolph got on base and scored Jones with a drive down the line, advancing to second on the throw. From there, JJ Smith hit a first pitch 2 RBI home run to centerfield to give the Bobcats a 4-0 lead. 


When the Bobcats came back to bat in the 4th, Vanderford cracked the game open. Megan Kelnar and Trahan were walked to get on base when Vanderford homered to left field. Her home run was her 5th of the season, 34th of her career. 


Mullins retired three batters via groundout in the bottom of the 4th. 


Karsen Pierce came in to pitch in the bottom of the 5th. She walked the first two batters and gave up to singles. The Dukes added two runs in the 5th. 


Mary Azua came in to pitch the 6th inning and gave up a solo home run for the Dukes final run of the game. 


Mullins would come in to close out the game without allowing any more runs, preserving the lead. 
 
With the 7-3 win the Bobcats took the series with the Dukes and will go for the sweep tomorrow. Texas State remains undefeated in Sun Belt play. 
 
The Bobcats will be back to face the Dukes tomorrow, March 17, at 10 am (CT). The game will be streamed on ESPN+.