Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MONROE, Louisiana –  Texas State softball improved to 36-12 on the season and 12-5 in Sun Belt play with two wins over ULM to take the series on Friday night.
 
Game one was a home run fest to answer two first-inning runs, led by Piper Randolph who had two homers of her own. Karmyn Bass hit her second homer of the season while Sara Vanderford hit the 37^th of her career in game one. Rounding out the scoring was a 2 RBI double from JJ Smith to propel the Bobcats to a 7-2 win in game one.
 
The Bobcats kept the hot hitting going in the second game with Vanderford going for her 38^th career home run in the first inning to get things going. From there the Bobcats got themselves up 5-0 and were able to hang on for the win despite a three-run homer in the 6^th. 


Game 1: Home Runs Propel Bobcats to Win
Jessica Mullins started in the circle for the Bobcats, despite a gear malfunction, she limited the Warhawks to just two runs in the bottom of the inning. She wouldn't allow another run in the complete game effort, the 63^rd of her career. 
 
The Bobcats had seven unanswered runs to take the win on the day, all starting in the 2^nd inning off a 2 RBI double from JJ Smith. She scored Emilee Baker and Sara Vanderford who reached on singles up the middle.
 
It was the 4^th inning when the first home run of the night was hit, which was off the bat of Bass. This was her third home run of the season. After the 4^th inning the Bobcats went up 3-2.
 
Randolph homered to center field as the leadoff batter in the 6^th to push the 'Cats lead to 4-2.
 
In the top of the 7^th, the Bobcats started their three-run inning that pushed them to the 7-2 win. It all started from Vanderford hitting her 37^th career home run on a full count. Smith was walked to get on base after an Anna Jones ground out. Randolph hit her second homer of the game for two RBI to cap off the scoring.
 
The Warhawks didn't find any runs in the bottom of the inning, ending things 7-2 in game one of the double header.
 
Game 2: Bobcats Battle for Series Win
Vanderford started game two the same way she ended game one: with a home run. The 38^th one of her career, also on a full count, Vanderford homered to left center to put the Bobcats ahead 1-0. 
 
Maddy Azua tossed the complete game for the Bobcats, striking out six batters in the process. She got strikeout No. 1 of the night to end the first inning with a scoreless frame. She'd get the second against the leadoff batter of the 2^nd inning.
 
The Bobcats put up three runs in the fourth, scored by Sydney Harvey after Anna Jones reached on a fielder's choice. Vanderford scored the next run on a wild pitch, and the inning was capped off by a Randolph RBI single.
 
Azua struck out two batters in the bottom of the third after opening the inning with a walk.
 
Jones scored on a throwing error in the 5^th inning to finish the scoring for the Bobcats.
 
ULM hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the 6^th to make it a three run game, but it didn't phase Azua. She'd strike out the final batter for her 5^th of the night to escape the inning, holding the two-run lead.
 
Azua struck out the first batter of the 7^th inning as well. Despite giving up a single to left field, Azua forced a fly out on the next at-bat. While the runner advanced to second on a wild pitch, Smith made a play at first base to catch the final out from a pop out.
 
The Bobcats would go 2-0 on the day with 7-2 and 5-3 wins, improving to 36 wins on the season. They will face ULM again tomorrow in the series finale at 6 pm.