SAN MARCOS, Texas – In the team's third straight shutout and fourth win of the week, Texas State shut down the App State Mountaineers for a 1-0 win on Sunday afternoon. The Bobcats won their second conference series of the 2024 season in shutout fashion, outscoring App State 18-0 through the three games.
 
Jessica Mullins started and tossed her second complete game shutout of the series, allowing App State just four hits on the day and striking out three batters in the process. She now sits atop the nation with 16 wins on the season.
 
"When the other team doesn't score any runs, you have a good chance to win," said head coach Ricci Woodard. "Our pitching staff did a really good job this weekend. They came out prepared, they threw the ball well, they kept us in a spot to win every game, which is all you can ask."
 
Mullins was able to get the complete game shutout, but with striking out just three batters, she relied on her defense to help make plays on the ground outs and fly outs to keep the Mountaineers off the board. The Mountaineers tallied 11 fly outs and six groundouts, forcing the Bobcat defense to do some work.
 
"I didn't feel like I had my best stuff today," Mullis said, "But I came out with a goal in mind to not let them score, and my defense helped me out a lot. I love that they can have my back just as much as I can have theirs."
 
Ciara Trahan got the lone RBI for the Bobcats today on a double to right center that scored Hannah Earls. Earls had hit one of two singles to get on base. That run came in the 3rd inning and ultimately was the game winner for the Bobcats.
 
Earls led the team with two hits, where Trahan, Sara Vanderford, Karmyn Bass and Kat Zarate each had one apiece. The five hits was the fewest by the Bobcats so far this season.
 
"We've got to do a little bit better job on the offense side. From game to game, we have to make adjustments to different pitchers better. I still think that's going to be the key to our success down the long stretch of this season."
 
Despite the Bobcats' bats not being quite as alive as the first two games of the season, the team found a way to get the win. Even with a runner on base in the top of the 7^th, the team was able to get two outs and Mullins got her third strikeout to end the game.
 
Texas State sealed the series sweep with the 1-0 win, improving to 26-7 on the season. The Bobcats are now 5-1 in conference play as they head on the road next week. The Bobcats will face Sam Houston on Tuesday, March 26^th at 5 pm in Huntsville, Texas. The team will then stay on the road for a weekend series at South Alabama from March 28-March 30.