HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Texas State softball gritted out a win for its 5th straight in 6-4 fashion over the Sam Houston Bearkats. 
 
The 'Cats started off hot with two first-inning runs. The Bearkat's answered with four runs, though, forcing Texas State to find an answer. 

Ultimately, a three-run seventh inning and two clutch strikeouts from freshman pitcher Maddy Azua closed the game out and preserved a 6-4 win. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 
Ciara Trahan doubled down the left field line to get things started for the Bobcats. She would score on Piper Randolph's single to center on the next at-bat. Anna Jones reached on a fielder choice later in the inning, scoring Randolph in the process.
 
Texas State was up 2-0 after the top half of the inning.

Jessica Mullins started in the circle for the Bobcats, giving up one hit in the bottom of the 1st, but she was able to keep the Bearkats off the board.
 
Sam Houston had a four-run second inning, helped by Bobcat errors. Sam Houston got their first run off a wild pitch from Mullins, and added the last three from another hit and an error by Anna Jones. 
 
Neither side added any runs in the third.
 
Trahan hit another double, this time to right center, for an RBI to make it a 4-3 ball game. She scored Dani Laughlin, who pinch ran for a previously on base Megan Kelnar
 
Texas State kept Sam Houston off the board in the bottom of the 4th, needing one run to tie the game. 
 
Despite Jones getting a double, the Bobcats were unable to bat her in. The Bearkats also stayed off the board in the 5th.
 
Neither side got a run in the 6th, but the Bobcats were able to reclaim the lead in the final inning. JJ Smith got the tying run off a sac-fly, followed up by a Kat Zarate 2 RBI single. The Bobcats came into the 7th inning trailing, and left it up 6-4.
 
Mullins walked the first batter in the bottom of the 7th, and Maddy Azua came in to close out the inning, getting two strikeouts to end the game.

The Bobcats will continue play on Thursday at South Alabama in the first of a three game series. The game will start at 6 pm and be streamed on ESPN+.